If You Stay Poem by Andrew James Paterson

The night that passed in passion was fine and real and right.
Would it last forever or only just the night?
If you stay then we'll get married and be blessed by Church and God We'll live our lives together, lie together beneath the sod.
If you stay we'll have breakfast, and talk and laugh and play,
we'll soon be friends together and then I know you'll stay.
We'll walk along the High Street, we'll share our friends and books, we'll holiday in France and compliment each other's looks
If you stay we'll have a mortgage, and rows along the way.
We'll have pets, steam puddings, and electric bills to pay,
What burned fierce and bright as glory will be forgotten down the years,
We may remember vaguely as we sit side by side, 'the dears'.
A somewhat average couple that survived the hopes and fears.
The pounding heart, the surging blood, the ecstasy of life,
will fade into the fog thrown up by daily strife.
It's not we won't be happy or live our lives in love;
we'll just paint the Sistine Chapel, 'two coats will do it, luv'.
If you go I'll not forget you, or me, or this, or that.
If you stay, you'll see me balding, and make me wear a hat.
I'll wear thick gloves in winter, be sensible, get fat.
You'll fuss about the children, show them how to feed the cat.
If you stay you'll have a husband, house, and stuff.
All the mortal baggage of which too much is enough.
Sometimes you will remember this night when we are young,
and weigh it in the balance and perhaps you'll think it wrong.
You'll look at me and wonder what might have been, and why,
and was there a better future with another man than I?