Widow's Grove

Met you in the saddle
Rode you in the dust
Held your hand to the heavens
Pulled your heart to the earth
Something blinded me more than the mist
The breath of the cottonwood
Buds lighter yet
When you rode the maypole of dance hall lace
And Galloped to another’s embrace
I bit the flowers from my wrist corsage
You waltzed too slowly
Too slowly you waltzed
With that girl from Widow’s Grove
Oh, I’d follow you to the river
That washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain
Of a cold dark night
That’s where I’ll be
Near the breath of a swallow
Petals dropped as I fell
You grabbed me then shyly held me
Against the stone cold well
In your hand was a glass
You held the ice against the night
It dripped and it sparkled and
I laughed a wish
Before it all slipped down the dark, tunneled well
I heard it melt quietly
I looked at you
Bent to the earth with one pleading wish
My skirts brushed to the furious pounding
I’d follow you to the river
That washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain
Of a cold dark night
It’s where I’ll be
I hid in the elm and raised the bough
That hung even with your neck
I chased you and drowned you there
Deep in the lake
And when your mouth was full and wet
I swallowed all your reckless fate
And with your last breath
You moaned too drunk to wake
Oh, I’d follow you to the river
That washes out to the sea
Through the wind, through the rain
Of a cold dark night
It’s there, there I’ll be