God of Ocean Tides

Close the door on a short night

Lift the lid on the daylight

It's 6:09, West Tennessee time

And I buy all my days

At the same place where the girl sells her nights

To a god of ocean tides

All night long

Writing poems to California

Melodies of failure

And the people I have thrown away

Meanwhile somewhere west of Carolina

In a congregation of strangers

We are digging holes to China

Then we pray to our reflections

In the water when it rises

 

Headlights pin the highway down

Jesus spins the world around

I spend all my tomorrows coming down

Goodbye all my days

I know I said I never loved you

But I might just try again tonight

 

Truck stops and river gods

Gas stations of the cross

Following a ghost         Following a ghost

I pray the water wash away the memories and the cost

Carry me south to the sea

Along with your memories of me

We are born in the water

I will return to thee

Coloured lights and birthday cakes

Candle wax on paper plates

Breathe the water

Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye

You can see through water

All the way up to the sky

Gods of water         Gods of rain

Cover up the sun again        

We are crossing at the Mississippi line

I tried all my days

To love you just the way you hoped I might

But I’m leaving here tonight

I can’t remember yesterday

I tried

If I said I could

I lied