The Seasons of Love

For two voices, male and female. Starcrossed lovers met once, and their attempts at meeting again continually fail.

I

It is springtime now,

And I await my lover,

A god among men;

I await him in fresh hope,

Hope fresh from the bud

Like falling cherry blossoms.

I sit in waiting

Beneath our cherry tree,

Ours, for here we kissed,

And learned to love and dream.

When will he come?

The sun sets and I must go�"

I shall be back at twilight.

II

It is springtime now!

Under the moonlit sky, I wait

Beneath our cherry tree.

Falling like gentle kisses,

Lovely blossoms rain:

I would drown in flowers she

Who is my goddess,

And bury her in kisses,

My sweet beloved.

I live for her, so I wait

Having seen her once.

The sun taints the sky red:

Until the dawn, I leave.

 

III

It is summer now:

Cherries dangle; still I wait

For my beloved.

I nibble from their sweetness,

And the stones proclaim:

“Memory of love is naught

Though the tears be real;

Yet true love is worth as gold.”

And I wait still,

My lips red with cherry juice,

For my Love said he would come.

The sun sets and my footfalls

Crinkle in the dried blossoms.

VI

It is summer now.

I see footprints shuffling off

To some obscene haunt:

What vile strumpet would corrupt

A lovers’ haven?

I nibble at some cherries

And remember her,

For they taste of her full lips

As I imagine,

No more cherry, ‘til her lips:

I know she will come.

The gentle moon flees the sun,

In doleful tears, I go home.

 

V

It is autumn now:

The cherries have fallen to earth,

And the rich odor

Strengthens my resolve to wait,

And I am made strong.

He loved me; he loves me still:

Always, I will wait,

Though I see him not, I wait.

The raucous scent laughs

At sighs for a single sight:

I cannot quite hide.

Like a hurt girl, the sun crawls

And I flee our cherry tree.

VI

It is autumn now:

The rich ferment of cherries

Breaks through chilly night.

Do I see my beloved,

Does she speak to me:

“Memory of love is death,

And a false lover;

Seek love again: I am weak.”

If I leave, she may.

She will find me waiting here:

Love ever patient.

Beneath the moon, I stand wait;

The sun rises and I go

 

VII

It is winter now:

The cherry tree is naked,

And in a blanket,

I wait for my beloved.

I think of his love,

Hoping warm thoughts will warm me.

My blanket holds me,

Like warm arms encircling me,

But I let him go.

I love him, trust he will stay.

I sleep. His arms fall.

I do not see the moon rise,

Yet I leave our cherry tree.

VIII

It is winter now.

Snow beneath our cherry tree,

Spread by cold winds,

Frosts the heart and blasts the soul.

Our grey cherry tree,

Connecting earth and sky

Lets a dead bough fall,

Piercing me and a blanket

Half-wrapped around her.

Our cherry tree connects us

Though we never touched;

Though our skies kept us apart,

We shall leave from the same earth.