The Light Inside

I went to church for yet another day Lit another candle and started to pray Thirteen years ago she passed away Our Twentieth anniversary would have been today I walked back home amongst falling leaves I should have worn a shirt with longer sleeves I poured a fresh cup of some hot green tea Her empty kitchen chair just staring at me Brought out of my trance by the ringing bell Who it would be, I couldn’t tell Probably a solicitor with something to sell I jumped up thinking, what the hell She stared at me with a knowing smile The awkward silence lasting quite a while Something was familiar about her style My memory bank shifting through long closed files “Hello Joe, it’s been a long time What the years have done to me is an awful crime I looked you up, I hope you don’t mind You are not really an easy man to find” She came in and we caught up on our past We were high school sweethearts when I saw her last We went to college down different paths Too many years ago for me to do the math It’s hard to start a fire in a worn out heart The grieving widower is my long played part She was very patient right from the start Feelings of grief don’t soon depart I hope, my love, that you understand For always and forever I will be your man But the time has come for me to love again And I am learning how with a new, old friend And now she comes to church along with me Helps me up and down on bended knee As I still light a candle in memory With a new light lit inside of me