Voices

I met a man upon the sea
who's heart was bold and brave.
He spoke to me inside my head
And made of me his slave.
His words made grace of constancy,
Of honesty; true worth.
He told me that a ship at rest
Needs but a single berth
I followed oh so slavishly
everything he said,
Until at last it brought me
Unto my true loves bed.

Lying there in afterwards
A whispering began.
It told me I could be
Yet another man.
A much more cunning fellow
Unslaved and underhand.
Who could take his pleasure
Abroad upon the land.
And now a long time after
There are voices still.
That count the cost of cheating
And proffer me my bill.

The old men now I meet
Are empty of desire.
On corners of the street
Their eyes are free of fire.
They tell me that to cheat
Is cheating from oneself.
That all the love we meet
Is meant for someone else.