My Dove, My Lamb

I remember evenings when my dad would sing

Hiding in the hallways, I am listening

Keeping still my body until it’s borne aloft

Her hair is soft her breath is soft and her name is soft

And gather me completely in her sighing hands

My dove my dove my lamb

Born with ocean thunder underneath our veins

Lonelier than cows left standing in the rain

Holy when our weight into the waves is tossed

Though ships get lost and fish get lost and names get lost

She will wait to greet me where it meets dry land

My dove my dove my lamb

So. Careful of that language babe some words are stones

They’ll lead you out from town and leave you all alone

Past the mirrored diamond mares that run all night

Where camptown ladies sing that song ‘aw come aw wry’

But lo they sing it sweetly so I’ll understand

My dove my dove my lamb

Though my sight be near and my way be long

Though the light I chase be disappeared by dawn

I have seen her standing on the roofs at night

I have seen her silver figure bathed and bright

And I have seen her sleeping in the cold white sand

My dove my dove my lamb

So even in these cities where she’s haunting me

Even when my weariness is wanting me

Even when my wickednesses want to breathe

Even in these dirty clubs counting 1-2-3

I will keep a singing til I no more can

My dove my dove my lamb

And later if I’m better I’ll be born again

I’ll pull my newborn body from the thorns and limbs

Finding with my fingers where they’ve torn the page

From some ancient book all gold and worn from age

And writ upon it neatly though in trembling hand

My dove my dove my lamb

Then later in the evening I hear trumpets ring

I stretch out in the dark and I am listening

Studying the sadness in your perfect limbs

Move them under mine until they learn to blend

And I will keep repeating til they understand

My dove my dove my lamb