Diesel Man

I was on the corner phone to someone I’d known
About the only things that seemed important
Two corners of my life, this locked up empty night
And a gar skull I found on a beach in Texas
I praised the strength of men caught in the moment when
Deciding to forgive themselves their failures
Like this night of broken things, this song I tried to sing
The ashtray, and the piano lady’s daughter
And someone in the phone knew everything I’d ever known
Hummed soundtracks to dreams I had forgotten
Things that we didn’t have right; we argued half the night
Knowing we could not come any closer
I loved the telephone, talked to the dial tone
While people on the sidewalk hurried by me