She Swore Her Love...

She swore her love and faithfulness,
To him she would be true.
She bade him go quick on his way,
To well his work to do.
And said, 'When you come back to me,
I will be here for you.'

On hearing this his joy was full,
and smiling he did say
'My darling know I love thee so
and tho' I go away
my heart and mind will be with thee
each and every day.'

And so he leaves upon the sea
more fortune for to gain;
with picture sweet of his true love
as luck to near remain;
with hopes to be richer than rich
when he comes back again.

But like the turning of the tide,
or like the changing wind,
so his good luck soon turned to ill,
furiously against him.
With blood and sweat he tried hard, yet
he lost everything.

With beggared thoughts and empty soul,
his heart began to yearn
to leave all shame and misery
and speedily return
to his true love - the greatest prize
that he could ever earn.

With hopeful thoughts and singing soul
he rushed on eagerly
to meet his love, to hear her voice,
to forget misery;
But, alas! Their home is locked and barred,
he finds it quite empty.

He searched around with frantic mind;
with fearful thoughts was he.
Had she been stolen away from him,
or ill somewhere, maybe?
'Nay, nay! She's with the handsome count,
with the handsome count is she.

'She heard of your misfortunes, sir;
thought she 'twould take thee long
to make up for your losses dear
and richly come back home.
So wedded she the wealthy count;
- to sunny isles they've gone!'

- Nina Alahakoon (2003)