The Salmon

Seven years, more it seems
I’ve been on the coast so long but I still can’t hear the sea
And it took all that time to learn
My body only walks the earth by the grace of selfish men
And I retreat into myself with every one

Wherever love is I want to be
I’ll find it as surely as the salmon finds the sea
I’ll bear headfirst the cold current until I freeze
I know the warmest ocean water waits for me

Sometimes the stars are all I see
The ocean warms my body but it can’t predict my destiny
With enough imagination you can nearly hear the sound
of your body’s own rotation through the air about the ground
And I will dress myself and go out dancing

The error is in the air I breathe
Mistaking secrets for my history
The people need to hear the words you speak (maybe someone knows the words I seek)
But the blood of a cut line still feels like home to me

Seven years I can’t believe
I forgave the words of other men but they don’t show such grace to me
And I will take the time to learn
to live inside the space between my secrets and my history
And I hear Charlie’s voice intone
“There are still worse things in life than being on your own”

(Lyrics copyright Christopher Stetson Wilson 2010)