He stepped upon the train-car steps;
it then began to leave.
He scowled and crushed the letter, held;
he gave it, then a heave!

The shock Rick felt, I sensed it too;
we both were jolted, stunned!
Colette sent ME a letter like
the one from Ilsa Lund!

The message Ilsa sent to Rick
caused such a jolting bruise!
Their blessed time was over! With
no warning, came this news.

I got a letter just like that,
which Ilsa sent to Rick.
Col wrote, "Our time is ending." Oh!
I sensed this massive Kick!

But t'was one feature dif'frent in
the letter, Col did write;
it started with such love and thanks;
our date so fine...First Night!

The letter penned by Ilsa, from
its start, said they were done!
The one I got from Col, though praised
our date through all page one!

When Rick read Isla's letter, the
first line caused shock, so bad!
The one from Col, though started out:
how nice our day we had.

And then her words continued on
the next page of the card;
I read, "Our time is ending." Oh!
I felt a slap, so hard!

So Rick and I both got a jolt;
...came as a vast surprise!
We both felt disappointment, huge!
and tears then filled our eyes! But Rick responded dif'frently
than how I did react.
He tossed her letter angrily;
while, hers I've saved; intact!

I'm grateful that I din't behave
as Rick, on that day, did.
It stunned me, yes! but I did not
then, of it, myself, rid!

When Rick received her letter, he
just tossed it down, away!
I saved Col's "Good Bye Letter" and
can touch it still, today!