Swift River, Run

Swift River, come
Swallow my spit and tears
May grieve and bitterness succumb
To your rolling, [twisted] thirst

Ride an eagle head
Clean and dry on its mountain perch
Aloft but for wicked winds
And dreams too long to [ ]

In the absence of truth I abstain
In the presence of a lie I cut my hands and pray for rain

[You'll] string up your shepherd
To squeeze some blood from his tongue
Then take your stolen answers and smother
The questions as the come

I’ve seen the levies burst
Seen fences devoured by the sun
Should the giant redwood burn
The ash will darken everyone

Swift river, come
Swift river, come