Awaiting His Best-Belovèd

For forty years he’d lived alone
and all that time he’d always known
he’d see his true love once again
and then her name again intone.

Ah, for so long he’d fought the pain
and feeling that his soul were slain;
and so long parted from his love
he thought from life he must refrain.

He from a window glanced above
to glimpse what he’d been dreaming of:
he hoped each day would be the day
he’d see his best-belovèd dove.

Though long ago he’d learned to pray
and see her face in ev’ry day
his dreams her at his side would lay
again each morn to take away.