Th broken lamp once lit our little night
In silent harmony, we read, or sewed and wrote
The smaller cheaper lamp now gives me light
I wish the shining lamp was in my sight
Oh, your mellow voice. I miss its notes
The broken lamp once lit our little night
God does not assist me in my plight
Nor does he send me Joseph’s coloured coat
A smaller cheaper lamp now gives me light
Remember Southwold and the river Blythe?
To Walberswick we went in that old boat
There we bought the lamp and blue bowls bright
Now memory is of teal green seas at Hythe
The burning stubble, Saxon cliffs well-wrought
My smaller world seems withered, over scythed
Joy and sorrow twined teach nothing’s bought
The sacred flame extinguished can’t be caught
The broken lamp brings sorrow to my sight
But shadowed memories of our life ignite
