The body grows, the spirit too
And in my veins something like blood

There's bread and butter on the lawn

The candle's lit the stars are out
My friends all smiles and drinking wine

A pinch of salt or maybe more
The onions first and then the rest

Not just the speaker but his voice
Not just what's said but how it's heard

But if it comes from far away
No one to thank only to mourn
The wine is red, the coffee's black
My smiling teeth are falling out

I let the river guide my feet
I let my friends make all the plans

Off in the wings with time to think

When I wake up I feel I'm whole
At night the words run through my hands

The candles flicker in the wind
Clouds come and cover up the stars

But if the eye and what it sees
Then maybe seeing's pretty too

A pinch of salt or maybe more
The onions first and then the rest
The coffee's black, the wine is red
Butter and bread out on the lawn

And God bless the snow
And keep us warm
Leave us our hunger

The bus won't run again till dawn
I ride it out and I walk back

I guard the matchstick from the wind

The windows lit, the curtains drawn
Each casts a shadow for the street

I draw the smoke in through my teeth
The ashes I let fall three times

If preparation, then for what?
If wasted how then better spent?

The figures mute behind their screens
Even more dark against the light
I let the end fall from my hand
Feel my coat's collar on my neck

I know the alley's every turn
I let the dark fill all I see

So let it all be as I learned

Sometimes my steps match my heart's beat
Sometimes I have to think to breathe

The sound a rushing in my ears
The city air upon my tongue

Was there some number came before?
Some constant measure, some dead weight?

I draw the smoke in through my teeth
The ashes I let fall three times
Then let the end fall from my hand
I guard the matchstick from the wind

God bless the snow
And keep us warm
Leave us our hunger

Pray that the blood in my blue veins is red
Don't let it out
Pray for the street light and the window lamp
Don't put them out
I draw the curtains out wide, here I stand