Inner Atlantis

when a tree falls, when a tree falls, when a tree falls
it makes a sound! it makes a sound! it makes an imprint on the ground
it needs no human witness to make a sound

it’s hard to sleep at night, with the world around alight
but you can always find someone to tell you: it’s ok, it’s alright
you can always find a voice with words of comfort

just ask the doctor leading questions, shun the bandaid for the bite
you can always find dead men to tell you who is wrong and what is right
if you’re seeking not a cure but absolution

when a tree falls, when a tree falls, when a tree falls
it makes a sound! it makes a sound! it makes an imprint on the ground
it needs no human witness to make a sound

as if another’s presence or their willingness to care
is any measure of the sound of suffering or the crime committed there
if you’re asking ‘cause you really want the answer:

go ask a gray-haired woman, go ask a fallen tree
drop a penny to your inner Atlantis, fathoms down fathoms deep
where all the things you thought you drowned are breathing

when a tree falls, when a tree falls, when a tree falls
it makes a sound! it makes a sound! it makes an imprint on the ground
it needs no human witness … it needs no human witness …
it needs no human witness to make a sound

round red robin: seer of spring, first come to the gathering
great gray owl on silent wing: harbinger of ends
flying, flying
who bears you up on your hollow bones?
breath of God, breath of God

black bird: scavenger, giver of gifts, collecting all that shines
brown and gentle jenny-wren: singer of the song
flying, flying
who bears you up on your hollow bones?
breath of God, breath of God

snow goose caravan, pointing north: pilgrims on a journey
faithful pelican, holding much: bringer of the feast
flying, flying
who bears you up as you skim the seas?
breath of God, breath of God

sometimes these bones of mine feel heavy
sometimes this marrow weighs me down
one day I’ll stitch these fallen feathers into wings
and fly away on hollow angel bones

so drop me a feather, bluebird
drop me a feather, oriole
Abba Father: Breather of Bones, Cherisher of Sparrows
fly to me, oh fly to me
when all that’s left of me is hollow bones
breath of God, breath of God …

First stanza adapted from “The Altar” By Ezra Pound, from PERSONAE, copyright ©1926
by Ezra Pound. Reprinted by permission of New
Directions Publishing Corp.

here is the altar where the friendship began
meet ’tis the ground here is holy
the flame, the autumn, and the green rose of love
fought out their strife here in wonder

here is the table, see the beautiful things
here are the chairs once empty
they are peopled now with beautiful beings
we dreamed into this world from another

for in the dream, in the dream, there was feasting
in the dream, in the dream, there were flagons of wine
and the tears of joy and the fears releasing
as we kissed the famine years good-bye, oh
as we kissed the famine years good-bye

here is the crossroad where the known world divides
we tremble, tremble at the distant thunder
we lay out our maps on the dining room table
and plot our escape routes by number

now is the hour for the filling of bowls
no more the thin gruel we’ve been given
if I give you now the first-fruits I promised
will you break the fast you’ve been keeping?

for in the dream, in the dream, there is feasting
in the dream, in the dream, there are flagons of wine
and the tears of joy and the fears releasing
as we kiss the famine years good-bye, oh
as we kiss the famine years good-bye, oh
as we kiss the famine years good-bye

I have been loved immoderately
I have been loved immoderately
I know what it looks like, I know what it does —
always and only immoderate love

You should be loved immoderately, you should be loved immoderately
So settle for nothing unless it’s made of, always and only immoderate love

I want to love immoderately
I want to love immoderately
I want to love immoderately
always and only immoderate love

love what you love immoderately
love who you love immoderately
just love one another with all you’re made of
with always and only immoderate love

for no one was meant for a just a sliver of life
so pound ye the table with spoon fork and knife
raise high your glasses to the heavens above
and drink with me darlins, to immoderate love

I want to love immoderately
I want to love immoderately
I want to love immoderately
always and only immoderate love
always and only
always and only
always and only immoderate love

we always told each other everything
at the end of the day, over wings and cider
there’s no art to throwing darts at other lovers
you never think you’ll be such an easy target

we listened so closely
gave imaginary birds to all the bad guys in our stories
for time can change anything
so we held on to each other
ever the good guys in our stories

we sent the birds into the battle, cried:
“find the enemy!” Oh cried: “find the enemy!”
we sent the birds into the battle, said:
“cry for me, for me, for me, for me …”

the hero and the heroine years later
at a loss for words, elbows on the kitchen table
cuz no one ever tells you this can happen
or how to be both the knight and the dragon

now we hardly hear each other
our imaginary birds are roosting silent on our shoulders
could time please change us back again?
oh to be your falconer!
to be the good guys in our stories again

to send the birds into the battle, cry:
“find the enemy!” Oh, cry, “find the enemy!”
oh, send the birds into the battle, say:
“cry for me, for me, for me, for me, for me!
for me, for me, for me, for me, for me!
please cry battle for me!”

there was a time a creaking floorboard would freak me to the core
I’d thank God when it was nothing, and no one at the door
but ever since you left, a ghost is what I’m praying for
‘cause I can’t even seem to summon you as a disembodied form

they all said you ghosted me
but a ghost’s supposed to haunt you, keep you constant company
and all the members of your trinity are on your couch at home
so I’m giving up your ghost cuz you’re alive, but I’m alone

this is a ghost town … ooo
this is a ghost town … ooo

there are no ghosts in the graveyard when the night falls on our town
it’s the dead who rest in peace here while the living hunker down
and hide among the gravestones way too scared to make a sound
wanting — but not wanting — but still hoping to be found

they all said I ghosted you
and I would have if I could have, but I could not split in two
grief has its own gravity, holding me to ground when I would have flown
so my ghost stays here within me, ‘cause I’m alive, so you’re alone

this is a ghost town … ooo
this is a ghost town … ooo

so tonight I could throw my shroud on; meet you where the road dead ends
we could roam the streets in our bedsheets, glow stick haloes on our heads
dressed up as folks with energy to be each other’s friends
or we could just give ourselves the grace to trust we’ll meet when it all ends

I’ll ghost you if you ghost me …

cuz this is a ghost town … ooo
this is a ghost town … ooo
this is a ghost town … the ghost of me, the ghost of you
this is a ghost town … please haunt me and I’ll haunt you
please haunt me and I’ll haunt you
please haunt me and I’ll haunt you

this is a ghost town …

in this dream, I am surrounded by the mist, by the mist
in this dream, I am surrounded by the mist
I am standing on the deck of a ship I cannot see
I am standing on a ship I cannot see

and in the dark: a crack, an echo
I hear the snapping of a line
something meant to hold just let go, just let go
something meant to hold just let go

was it the failing of the braiding or the tying of a knot?
was it the failing of the braiding or the knot?
was the hold too heavy-laden, was the anchor-line too taut?
was the hold too heavy, the anchor-line too taut?

for in the dark: a crack, an echo
I hear the snapping of a line
something meant to hold just let go, just let go
something meant to hold just let go

so I hold fast to the tall pine mast and wait for the wind in her sails
hold fast to the tall pine mast and pray that her heartwood prevails
pray that her heartwood prevails

come the morning when the vapors melt away, melt away
come the morning when the vapors melt away
will I find that I am free, or lost at sea, lost at sea?
will I find that I am free, or lost at sea?

for in the dark: a crack, an echo
I hear the snapping of a line
something meant to hold just let go, just let go
something meant to hold just let go

I see green corn rise in perfect rows
see the winter supplies in their tall silos
I see grandmothers canning with their grandmothers’ jars
see the way the roots here wrap around each other

I see ancient trees, from far-off shores
that drop their golden fans at winter’s door
see the wind spin teardrops where the trains pass through
I’m looking out as this one carries me away from you

and I, I can finally see you
and I can finally see the roses in among the thorns, I
I can finally see you
I can see your beauty in the light of goodbye

I see your crescent smile, flash across the double line
hear your echoed endearments, first of their kind
see the dream that we conjured, the spider-web we spun
I see two hearts unbraced for collision

and I, I can finally see you
and I can finally see the roses in among the thorns, I
I can finally see you
I can see your beauty in the light of goodbye

I see your dashing preacher, and raise you the boy
who prayed down tongues of angels, knowing not what he deployed
see the tides of your lifetime, low high low
I see the path you chose that I could not follow

and you were not the saint you prayed to be on bended knee
you were not the lover that you could have been to me
this was not the home we dreamed that it could be
but you were you and I am me, that was then and so were we
and now I’m free … oh now I’m free …
and from the eagle eye so high above, so far away I see
from far away I can see

yes I, I can finally see you
and I can finally see the roses in among the thorns, I
I can finally see you
I can see your beauty in the light of goodbye
I see your beauty in the light
your beauty in the light
your beauty in the light of goodbye

the rain began just past Mt. Crawford
as the tire went flat on your side of the old Rambler
now I’m standin’ here in my red raincoat as the storm rolls through
five exits down the road from leavin’ you

I’m so close, I’m so far, if I could just drive this car
it’s just three roads but five hundred miles home to Georgia

the spare and the jack are piled beneath everything I own
in a trunk tied shut with a fishin’ knot you showed me
you’re just a call away and I could still say, “Let’s start over again.”
fate’s workin’ hard to second guess my better judgment

I’m so close, I’m so far, if I could just drive this car
it’s just three roads but five hundred miles home to Georgia

flashin’ lights and a tow-truck pulls onto the shoulder
a man steps out toward me in the cold air
an angel with a toolbox says I’ll be good as new
“just keep that past recedin’ fast in your rear-view”

I’m so close, I’m so far, and now I’m gonna drive this car
it’s just three roads but five hundred miles home

just three roads, just three roads, just three long-haul roads
it’s just three roads, but five hundred miles home to Georgia
home to Georgia

three rivers converge in a western PA wood: Welcome to Pittsburgh!
all roads there are traveled good and busy there in Pittsburgh
they cross the rivers on half a thousand bridges over Pittsburgh
and intersect at half a thousand red lights in Pittsburgh

I lived just one year there and I’ll forever thank you, Pittsburgh
there are things you learn real quick there and you never forget ‘em, Pittsburgh
I can parallel park in manual on a hill, cuz hello Pittsburgh
but there’s one thing you should know above all others when you go there:

if you’re first in line at a red light, hoping to turn left
if you wait for a bright green arrow you will surely be bereft
but there’s a gift oncoming traffic will just give you if you burn it:
a fleeting, bleeding, speeding, one-heart beating chance to turn it

if life gives you a Pittsburgh, honey,
if you, you get a Pittsburgh left
blink and you’ll miss it as life keeps rollin’ on by on the other side
so take the chance! hit the gas! steal the moment while it lasts!
and if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left! take the left!
if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left

you can see the world as the eagle flies if you’re inclined in Pittsburgh
see the city shine like a great ship steaming up the river, Pittsburgh
her 30,000 red lights turning green for you in Pittsburgh
will you wait or will you turn down on those city streets of Pittsburgh?

if life gives you a Pittsburgh, honey,
if you, you get a Pittsburgh left
blink and you’ll miss it as life keeps rollin’ on by on the other side
so take the chance! hit the gas! steal the moment while it lasts!
and if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left! take the left!
if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left

maybe you’re feeling stuck or in between or just in limbo
is it time to recommit or way past time for lettin’ it go?
between a rock and the hardest place there still can be a little window
sometimes you gotta make the call before you gather all the info

if life gives you a Pittsburgh, honey,
if you, you get a Pittsburgh left
blink and you’ll miss it as life keeps rollin’ on by on the other side
so take the chance! hit the gas! steal the moment while it lasts!
and if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left! take the left!
if you get a Pittsburgh, take the left

champagne flutes a’clinkin’
Christmas lights a’blinkin’
you’re sittin’ here by me with your eyes just a’twinklin’

while lovers current and former
commence to kissin’ in every corner
you think I don’t take note, cuz I’m a damn good performer

I know you’re still pinin’ cuz you can’t stop whinin’
about the last one that broke your sweet heart
so I tell you no matter how late I will stay,
we’ll toast the end of your bad year together
who needs the cruel joke of love anyway?
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever, oh
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever

as we sip our gins and tonic
we keep it ever so platonic
the torch I’ve carried for so long, how could I act upon it?

I never have the nerve to say it
nor the words to properly convey it,
you don’t even know there’s a game, but you sure know how to play it

I know you’re not pinin’ for me cuz you’re whinin’
about the last one that broke your sweet heart
so I tell you no matter how late I will stay,
we’ll toast the end of your bad year together
who needs the cruel joke of love anyway?
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever, oh
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever

who needs the cruel joke of love anyway?
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever
Happy New Year, I’ll be your best friend forever
Happy New Year, I’m just your best friend forever …

oh I wish I could tell you, my darling, that a letter will arrive by post
with a signed invitation telling you all you’re supposed to know
but  it’s much harder, my darling, and also easier by far
for you’re already shining brightly as a morning star

wherever you are is the lamp stand, so shine shine shine!
come out from under the covers, oh beloved, beloved of mine!
wherever you are is the lamp stand, so shine shine shine!
come out from under the covers, oh beloved, beloved of mine!

more than thirteen billion years ago, Love said, “Let there be light,”
so light came into being, and Love saw that it was right and good
today Love is asking you, my darling, yes, now in the darkest night
to join the constellations and let your light shine bright

for this is not a time for biding: little light, come out from hiding!
this is not a time for biding: little light, come out from hiding!

wherever you are is the lamp stand, so shine shine shine!
come out from under the covers, oh beloved, beloved of mine!
wherever you are is the lamp stand, so shine shine shine!
come out from under the covers, oh beloved, beloved of mine!