Mouth of Flames

The house drew a mouth of flames
That could not wait to hold it and burn
And I was inside, I saw it turn

Bright cats clawing up the darkening walls
Ruthless and hunting all of their flaws
I was inside, I saw it all

I took what I could from the deafening blaze
But I could only take so much
One thing goes while another thing stays
Some too heavy, but none that you can reach

The things that I lost I will always remember
The things that I lost I will never forget
The things that I lost left behind no remainder
Things that I lost and the things I'll lose yet

The open-wide beam of youth is gone
The letters, the songs, and the stories are gone
The misguided fears and the illusions are gone
And what I was saying has lost its breath and the air is gone

The things that I took I hold close to my body
The things that I took I hold close to my chest
The things that I took cannot leave any longer
The things that I took are the things I love best

The silent focus of a deep-diving prayer
The rational roads with uneven scars
The sweet silent joy of a deep-woods commune
I left the stars, but I took the moon
I left the stars, but I took the moon
I left the stars, but I took the moon