yesterday, I raised up the lid of their toy chest
ah, had I but known what awaited me there

a childs sleeping doll, long smothered with kisses
a plush teddy bear, its stuffing all sadness
a star on each page of their school notebooks
and a sorry toy sailboat, shipwrecked like my old heart

chorus:
and a ray of sunlight
a handful of sadness
farewell my little ones, farewell my loved ones
farewell to youth

and crystal marbles, glowing souvenirs
slip through my fingers like precious stones
and next, stamps from all over the globe
come by the thousands to brighten their lives
the dried roses of their first loves
and a forgotten rosary that awaits their return

chorus

and a faded journal, withholding its secrets
somewhat as we, too, have done
and finally a puzzle with pieces gone missing
somewhat the way it has been between us

chorus