With furrowed brow and silvered hair br Crumpled low in her rocking chair br Draped in a shawl of tattered lace br A thousand years upon her face br br And sallowed cheeks, the rosy cast br Of girlhood having log since passed br She raised her eyes up to the sun br For now she knew her life was done br br So many stories she had told br Across the years as she grew old br But now the time was drawing near br To be with those she loved most dear br br She meekly smiled and gave a sigh br In mem`ry of the years gone by br Then glanced down at her wedding band br Hung loose upon her withered hand br br Her eyes then gazed towards the place br Where stood a portrait of his face br The first and only love she`d known br Which blossomed like a rose, full grown br br Yet as she looked, her eyes grew dim br (She thought she caught a glimpse of him) br But only shadows filled the room br The wilted rose no more to bloom br br She stroked her hair and touched her breast br Where once her sleeping children pressed br So lonely in her room to weep br Then passed into eternal sleepbr br Valerie Dohrenbr br