As the rain beats a kettle drum,
I remember when it started.
Like other victims of my love,
She was sweet and tender hearted.
I never appreciated
Her—like the others. We parted.

Once one said that she loved me, and
My heart lept about and darted.
But my mind did not share the same
Feeling, but instead regarded
Her as a nothing that spoke words
Of no consequence. We parted.

I couldn’t sail the seas of love
To lands I had never charted
In romance’s exploration.
Indeed, I was too faint hearted
To venture too far from the shore,
Lest I fall off, thus we parted.

I couldn’t master my feelings,
For I was so simple hearted.
I know now my emotional
Maturity was retarded.
I couldn’t realize love’s effects,
So ultimately we parted.

I never managed to receive
The affection they’d imparted.
I didn’t, wouldn’t want to learn
To love, for I was hard hearted.
When I finally die alone,
None will notice I’ve departed.