Oh, Alide!

Oh, Alide!

Alide's bag was full of tools

Full of fire and full of fuel

She left on a sunny day

Full of needles in the hay

She paused at the fence

And slipped into the crack she leaned against

Oh, Alide!

She sewed up the hole

With thread spun from her mother's hair of gold

And left behind her shoes

Buckled boots of blue

And a bundle of seeds

To spring up after the freeze

And wrap around the knees of the lookers

So leave what was left

For it was left with intent

Unless you are hell bent on knowing what took her

Oh, Alide!

Oh, Alide!

If I could, I would be a ship

That would bear you across the world

You would lay down in my cabin

With all my flags unfurled

But I feel like a heavy arrow on a sapling bow

That saps your strength to bend

I feel like a tattered robe that's your only clothes

That takes all your time to mend

And Alide said her goodbyes

Early in July

With white clouds whittling away

At the blue heart of the sky

Wove the setting sun

With the lyre and the drum

Into a brilliant disguise

Oh, Summer's slow burn!

Oh, Summer's slow burn!

Divining rod points towards the broad

Of the water below the hill

Where the rain ran off to the riverbed

And Alide is running still

To where the wind offers worship

In its treetop churches and the ghosts all

Eat their fill

Oh, Summer's slow burn!

Oh, Summer's slow burn!

Willow The Wisp, escaping my lips

Like light on the window sill

Touch and go like a kiss on the nose

From Autumn's early chill

Wait wait wait for the opening of the gate

Or for your full cup to spill

Oh, Summer's slow burn!

Oh, Summer's slow burn!