In the worst hour of the worst season
    of the worst year of a whole people
a man set out from the workhouse with his wife.
He was walking-they were both walking-north.

She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up.
    He lifted her and put her on his back.
He walked like that west and north.
Until at nightfall under freezing stars they arrived.

In the morning they were both found dead.
    Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history.
But her feet were held against his breastbone.
The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her.

Let no love poem ever come to this threshold.
    There is no place here for the inexact
praise of the easy graces and sensuality of the body.
There is only time for this merciless inventory:

Their death together in the winter of 1847.
    Also what they suffered. How they lived.
And what there is between a man and a woman.
And in which darkness it can best be proved.

When you look at me what's the look I see in your eyes?
I see sadness but for who?
Your green eyes frighten yet melt me
Curioser and curioser
What else is there
Pity, jealousy, love, what?
I can't read your eyes, never could
All I can tell is there's something different
Something added or changed or missing
Whenever you look my way
What are you feeling?
Are you screaming or hiding?
I feel so confused and you won't talk to me
Tell me something clear
'Cause I can't read you

The day I met you
You were either high or silly
And now that I've known you
I still can't decide
Maybe you live on a high of crazy
Reckless abandon
But no, you care too much for that
What are you?

My lover asks me:
"What is the difference between me and the sky?"
The difference, my love,
Is that when you laugh,
I forget about the sky.

I think of you and I think of your laughter
Your hugs and jokes and wry smiles
Running around chasing eachother
Tumbling in the grass
Those sweet shy and bold kisses you'd brush my cheeks with
And of course
Your eyes

Look at the grass grow,
look at the spirits flow,
look at the sun glow,
look at your sons go.

Look at the rip tides,
look at the grey skies,
look at the black flies,
look in your own eyes.

Look at the hurricanes,
look at those in pain,
look at the pouring rain,
look at those showered by fame.

Look at the burning coal,
look into the black hole,
look deep into the soul,
look at the world as a whole.

Corporate conquerors conquer the economy.
Seven sickos ****** with ******.
Honest Al has no honesty.
Endogamy?

Some poor sinner selects to sin.
Whiny woman want to win.
Crazy killers **** their kin.
Fin?

No! Lets keep the show going!
Skies are clear, but it is snowing.
Rowing, flowing, with the stream,
is this all a dream?

A dream?
Awaken me!
I scream!
I flee...

I'm floating on a stream,
crying in a dream,
waiting to be seen,
by you.

See me,
hug me,
kiss me,
love me.

Hate me,
shun me,
as long as you loved me,
then I can die,
I can dream,
in peace.

It could have worked if we were older
Maybe in a few years you'll lean on my shoulder
on that hill, both back from college for summer
and you'll realize I'm your guy.
Or maybe not, maybe we'll be back
but you'll have a boyfriend that you love
more than you ever loved me
and I'll be asking a ******* a date to a movie
I'll see you holding his hand and I'll
remember what I wrote next to your name
in my phone

"Always take care of her even if it means
letting go"
Yeah it'll sting but then I'll smile
because I know
that I probably love you more than you will ever
be loved
You'll never know that but
seeing you happy is enough

And maybe you'll see me getting a girl's number
and you'll think back to that summer when you
gave me yours
Yeah it'll sting but you'll remember everything
that made you happy
Then you'll grab that boy and walk out that door
talking about how much you adore his
brand new hair cut
I'll look up and you'll be gone
possibly forever but
I have you in my heart
I'll always remember