Soulfire

When they stray from sweet music,
no imitation will do: 
Their tempo grows lax,
their demeanor -- chilled through. 
Words full can become
strangely vacant of meaning,
kindness -- a cool form of pity,
misleading. 
When they stray from sweet music,
their passion runs dry,
and youth feels old enough
to die. 
When they stray from sweet music --
never dreaming the cost --
they surrender life tepid
to blazing love's loss. 
 
Music link:  "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations, by Edward Elgar