My favorite was
“Down in the Valley”—
Melancholy tune
Whose refrain went:
“Angels in heaven
Know I love you.”
You were soon
To die and me
Still a child, sitting so
Close beside you,
Yet mishearing
That line as if it
Paused in the middle
While the singer
Considered
A celestial offer
And then declined:
As if it meant
“Angels in heaven?
No, I love you.”
Such a choice
Impressed me,
And even then made sense.