Though years had changed the etching there,
I felt your presence everywhere;
Still recall the feeling of your hand, soft against my face--
Still recall your arms around me, holding me in a fond embrace.

I knew you loved me from the start,
That you'd always remain somewhere deep in my heart;
It hurt so much when we had to part,
When you had to leave, to make a new start.

Far, far away you went,
And many a tearful night I spent
Just yearning to kiss you and hold you near,
You were my first love, the one I'd always hold dear.

Kindness and gentleness was your way,
You'd never hurt me, or angry words say,
And I thought we'd be together
For ever and a day.

I remember the first time I saw your face-
And a handsome face you had;
That smile I can never erase,
From my mind or from my heart-
It will never depart,
Nor will your warm embrace.

Time goes by and the years wrinkles bring,
But my memories will never fade,
Of the time when love first took wing,
Of the time when your acquaintance I first made.

It is said that time cannot steal
The memories you hold dear in your heart;
Though distance and time may separate first love,
And life's pathways lead you apart.

Other loves come to brighten our days,
We travel through life on separate roads;
Each of us forge a path, each going our own ways,
Each of us at some time have carried a heavy load.

The love I have now is different from yours,
But in some ways it's quite the same--
He's thoughful, and loving and caring and much more,
He's there when I need him, and he keeps me sane.

Though I've wandered away, now I'm home to stay,
And here I'll remain till my dying day.

When I feel he doesn't care, or that he's unfair,
It hurts but I keep on with a steady pace--
For I know, without a doubt, he'll always be there,
He'll stick with me to the end of the race!

No, my first love I will never forget,
It will remain in my thoughts always;
But the love I have in my life right now,
Will be with me for the rest of my days.