Alide

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!