Old companion I know you are dying I feel the dark moment rise up through your core All your leaves die and your branches are bare And I fear if I sleep I'll awaken no more Oh, you have been a great-hearted friend How we have peacefully travelled the years Now a soft counterpoint fills all my dreams The fall of your leaves and the fall of my tears Old companion I wakened this morning And felt a sad emptiness where you had been I was alone; lost in my grief for you Missing your touch so much loser than kin Old companion I found in your shadow One of the striplings that came from your seed Will he flourish feeding on all you were Will his young heart be the home that I need New companion pardon my tears awhile I will grow happier over the years As we grow close time will be good to us Granting us centuries yet without fears Oh and he was a great-hearted friend Peacefully sharing my life 'til today Now he is only alive in my memory All else he was will soon crumble away Oh, you have been a great-hearted friend How we have peacefully travelled the years Now a soft counterpoint fills all my dreams The fall of your leaves and the fall of my tears