Though it crept upon me slowly,
My life fell to a power
That spread like a growing storm,
That grew like a growing flower,
That swelled like a swelling tide,
Which drowned bridegroom and bride,
And the singing in every tower.
Though it crept upon me slowly,
As I looked the other way,
My fears assumed tomorrow
Would know my suffering today:
I wrote a song in a book sadly,
She is that type who reads no books gladly;
Of my saying, she said, “What did you say?”
Though it crept upon me slowly,
Only interested at first,
Now interest turns to desire,
And yet that wasn’t the worst;
When desire to have desire turns
To love, the lover burns
For a fate that will bruise and burst.
Though it crept upon me slowly,
Like dew descending into sleep,
Fast my heart suddenly ran,
Real tears began to weep;
How sad to know what is always known!
Weak in your company, weaker when alone!
None can keep what they wish to keep.
Though it crept upon me slowly,
The end was horrible and fast,
Creeping into the galley
And creeping up the mast;
The ship pulled into the ocean
Slowly and sorrowfully, like the years,
But soon came the waves, and soon came the fears.
