My Dove, My Lamb-Phosphorescent

I remember evenings when my dad would sing Hiding in the hallways, I am listening Keeping still my body until it’s borne aloft Her hair is soft her breath is soft and her name is soft My dove my dove my lamb Born with ocean thunder underneath our veins Lonelier than cows left standing in the rain Holy when our weight into the waves is tossed Though ships get lost and fish get lost and names get lost She will wait to greet me where it meets dry land My dove my dove my lamb So. Careful of that language some words are stones They’ll lead you out from town and leave you all alone Past the mirrored diamond mares that run all night But lo they sing it sweetly so I’ll understand My dove my dove my lamb Though my sight be near and my way be long Though the light I chase be disappeared by dawn I have seen her standing on the roofs at night I have seen her silver figure bathed and bright And I have seen her sleeping in the cold white sand My dove my dove my lamb So even in these cities where she’s haunting me Even when my weariness is wanting me Even when my wickednesses want to breathe Even in these dirty clubs counting 1-2-3 I will keep a singing til I no more can My dove my dove my lamb And later if I’m better I’ll be born again I’ll pull my newborn body from the thorns and limbs Finding with my fingers where they’ve torn the page From some ancient book all gold and worn from age And writ upon it neatly though in trembling hand My dove my dove my lamb Then later in the evening I hear trumpets ring I stretch out in the dark and I am listening Studying the sadness in your perfect limbs Move them under mine until they learn to blend And I will keep repeating til they understand My dove my dove my lamb