Let’s not pretend we have done this before

In that way people protect themselves from hope

By conceding that this is just another in a long string of loves

And that each one has its end

And that each one is just as significant as the next

In that way people protect themselves

From the pain of love poorly tended to

The pain of love left to spoil into contempt

The pain of love meant to show us what does not fit

Let’s just be grateful that we found each other

And not a moment earlier

And that all those other loves had their chance

To mold and shape us

And make us ready