2nd Place Winner, March/April 2014 Contest: “Don’t Tarry Long”

2nd Place
“Don’t Tarry Long”
David Hartman
Greenville, South Carolina

What I consider leaving, you’re calling letting go
But your sugar-coated moving on still cuts me to my soul
And I should stop pretending you were ever mine to hold
But no one else’s fare-thee-well has ever left this man so cold

So don’t tarry long; don’t hang around
Just move it on; and let me get to falling down
Don’t prop me up; with those words you think are kind
‘Cause the sooner you get leaving, the sooner I can lose my mind

What I could swear is dying, you call a brand new start
Like I could make a patch-work quilt from the pieces of my heart
And you should stop pretending you and I will ever be
Anything but over and a broken memory

So don’t tarry long; don’t hang around
Just move it on; and let me get to falling down
Don’t prop me up; with those words you think are kind
‘Cause the sooner you get leaving, the sooner I can lose my mind

Please just leave; don’t linger here at all
I’ll be fine; once the darkness comes to call
Please just go; you don’t get to see me cry
I’ll just sit here in the lonely and watch another promise die

What you consider leaving, I’m calling letting go
It’s over quick and easy; I can’t end this safe and slow
And you may never understand all the painful reasons why
I just couldn’t stick around for another long good-bye

So don’t tarry long; don’t hang around
Just move it on; and leave me here on sacred ground
Don’t prop me up; with those words you think are kind
I’ll just lie here in the lonely, and leave your memory behind
Click here to see David’s Songspace Profile.