16-horsepower Beyond the pale

unseen down lane
come petrified velvet
close to me
i imagined you some place else
you who told me the truth outside
and so forth and so on
i saw in your face
you did not
remember mine
lost in my backwood
you woke and found me there
setting the woods on fire
running hard and dirt heavy
neath the skin of a bear
all my harm
i shall wear

i was happy
i knew it
i clapped my hands
beyond the pale and beautiful
the sweetest song
the saddest thought
why has no one woke me
we could not
please stay
please stay
stay as i come clean
i've waited for your noise all day
beyond the pale and beautiful
we keep down our voices
we keep down our voices
for that is our way

lost in the backwood
you woke and found me there
setting the woods on fire
running hard and dirt heavy
in the skin of a bear
all my harm
i shall wear