I knew the foul, predicted pain
I knew how words deceive
But heavy were my thoughtful lids
All through the dreadful eve.

And so I faced the mellow fate
Of longings' crusts and thrills
And spoke the poundings in my chest,
The heart that's faithful still.

I dared to break my ignorance
I mouthed all questions clear
And learned and taught the past, and all
Without a single tear.

The faithful heart, the gloomy fate,
And everything that clings -
We talked of this, we talked of that
We talked of many things.

We shared our secrets as the clock
Discussed the passing years
I learned that open endings are
Just quite accepted here.

The conversation twisted through
The ways of truth and time
We walked at ease, we walked astray
We crossed the fierce sublime.

The morning bathed the universe
And found us thoughtful yet -
He wondered of the faithful heart,
I wondered what of fate.