he came from a dark place
he came with a load
life on his etched face
his sorrow below
he said if I’m needed
just knock on my quarters
all of us heeded
mysterious waters
we knew him our own stock
he’d left for a woman
but there ain’t blood in rocks
we all saw it coming
twenty years with her
twenty without
the first twenty flittered
then bitter and out
he came down at dawn
spoke softly to me
it’s here I was born
it’s here I will see
the rest of my days out
I’ve seen all the west
just life hand to mouth
my cards by my chest
I longed for my people
but you know call it shame
a man can be feeble
when a woman takes aim
we spoke as the sun rose
we spoke ‘til it set
he told me the wind blows
and piles up regret
like leaves in the autumn
just swirling around
as soon as you’ve caught one
another leaves ground
he’d had his last drink
I pondered his words
I couldn’t help think
our paths make us blurred
some catch the rose
some catch the thorn
it’s not like it’s chose
much less how we’re born