--for Elliot Smith


        Austin heat blazed and blew

        When I knew who I wanted to be

        Breezed in and bought you

        Quarters for change

        Sound of you and April

        coursed through me

        when sweetness and sweat gave me pause-

        

        You tasted like San Antonio.

        After three hours of sunset and desert

        I could feel you on my lips

        On my tongue

        I knew me and you knew me.

        In Texas heat

        I fell into you

        Virgin on Main Street

        where you kept calling me sister Mary.

        

        Then winter came too soon

        Into cool snowy weather,

        You followed me through.

        You were

        Sound on winter glass

        Muffled and muted

        Dense, caught in the white.

        

        and though it was so cold

        snowflakes in evening

        you bled white-

        You were stereo soul and flowers

        and warmth through spring light

        

        But-

        When the earth stirred once again

        and autumn eyes cried,

        Leaves fell in deference at your feet

        and your ax tumbled

        taut strings snapped and stung

        and that incredible voice crumbled

        cracked for crying-

        your bleeding heart broke you

        and spilled onto the floor.

        Left me weak

        Grey too early

        Cold again.

        

        So left dumb under my Ohio skies

        I keep to remembering

        Quarters for change

        and finding you on some street corner

        Windswept Texas

        playing you in the air.

    

Copyright © Hailey Clark, 2005. All Rights Reserved.