Author's Prologue Lyrics

Before I knocked and flesh let enter, With liquid hands tapped on the womb, I who was as shapeless as the water That shaped the Jordan near my home Was brother to Mnetha's daug...Read Full Lyrics

Being but men, we walked into the trees Afraid, letting our syllables be soft For fear of waking the rooks, For fear of coming Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries. I...Read Full Lyrics

Because the pleasure-bird whistles after the hot wires, Shall the blind horse sing sweeter? Convenient bird and beast lie lodged to suffer The supper and knives of a mood. In t...Read Full Lyrics

I Myselves The grievers Grieve Among the street burned to tireless death A child of a few hours With its kneading mouth Charred on the black breast of the grave The mothe...Read Full Lyrics

My tears are like the quiet drift Of petals from some magic rose; And all my grief flows from the rift Of unremembered skies and snows. I think, that if I touched the earth, ...Read Full Lyrics

Do you not father me, nor the erected arm For my tall tower's sake cast in her stone? Do you not mother me, nor, as I am, The lovers' house, lie suffering my stain? Do you not ...Read Full Lyrics

Ears in the turrets hear Hands grumble on the door, Eyes in the gables see The fingers at the locks. Shall I unbolt or stay Alone till the day I die Unseen by stranger-eyes ...Read Full Lyrics

On almost the incendiary eve Of several near deaths, When one at the great least of your best loved And always known must leave Lions and fires of his flying breath, Of your i...Read Full Lyrics

Too proud to die; broken and blind he died The darkest way, and did not turn away, A cold kind man brave in his narrow pride On that darkest day, Oh, forever may He lie light...Read Full Lyrics

Especially when the October wind With frosty fingers punishes my hair, Caught by the crabbing sun I walk on fire And cast a shadow crab upon the land, By the sea's side, hearin...Read Full Lyrics