I LOVED YOU ONCE

I loved you once, a long, long time ago.
My heart and soul was filled
with love for you.
'Twas not a quiet, simple longing
of my heart,
but a yearning, burning, undying
passion of the soul.
When fervid passions throbbed
so deep within me,
and I could scarcely
the overwhelming
emotions contain,
I kept unspoken the feelings
deep within me
and wondered if someday
my love for you would fade.

Now time has flown so swiftly by;
my life has changed from day to day.
My mind has put aside the love
I know I'll never have,
but the aching, lonely feeling
still burns within my soul.
My only wish is that someday
you'll know
how passionately I long for you,
and that somewhere down deep
inside your heart
a flame is still aglow
and burning quietly for me.

Copyright © 1960 Ruth Gillis