Slowly at First Then All at Once

Love is where it falls and then it falls away, they say
But this view is sentimental:
I think you'll find, in both directions
That the gradient’s more gentle:
Love grows by increments - one day that revelatory kiss
Then she's who you spend your nights with -
Who you mix your essences with and who you will be the one..
You have the fights with
And the ways of the world are strange - the steeple-bells they chime
Saying: ‘history don't repeat itsеlf; it rhymes.’
Slowly it comes at first, then all at thе one time
Like the last tree that keeps its leaves on through november
But after the violence of storm has blown the branches bare the winter won't remember
It's surprising how much can change and yet (for now) appear the same
Then one spasm and convulsion: after that you'll never see that world again
And the ways of the world are cruel and beautiful sometimes
It seems to be a common paradigm:
Slowly it comes at first, then all at the one time
Ubu Roi and Mu'ammar: with all their sadopopular ambitions
(characterised by many lies
Beyond the normal scope of even politicians)
Dismantled one by one the democratic institutions of their nations
Then the knocks at midnight came and the executions, pogroms and deportations
And everyone ignored the signs:
The gradual crescendo of their crimes
Slowly it comes at first, then all at the one time
This is an anthem to all the gods and goddesses of growth and demolition
I see it all with my thumb in my mouth from a foetal position
To break down all the work of years you'd think would take some doing
But after a while I think you'll find there will be a few things that have been… …brewing
And one by one the small catastrophes align:
The fails, the falls, the ultimate decline
Slowly it comes at first then all at the one time
Slowly it comes at first then all at the one time