hard love

It was hard love, every step of the way,
Hard to be so close to you, so hard to turn away,
and when all the stars and sentimental songs dissolved today,
There was nothing left to sing about but hard love.
So I loved you for your courage and your gentle sense of shame,
and I loved you for your laughter and your language and your name,
and I knew it was impossible, but I loved you just the same,
Though the only love I gave to you was hard love.
So I'll tell you that I love you even though I'm far away,
And I'll tell you how you cange me as I live from day to day,
How you help me to accept myself and I won't forget to say,
Love is never wasted, even when its hard love.
Yes its hard love, but its love all the same,
Not the stuff of fantasy but more than just a game.
And the only kind of miracle that's worthy of the name,
For the love that heals our lives is mostly hard love.