The White Birch

The Weight of Spring

New York
I have let you down
With hymns and vows
As I drowned my sins in New York
I built my house, my home
On stubborn clay
Under the wings of New York
I lost my silver
I earned my gold
In the floods and tides of New York
I lost my taste for soil
In a bathysphere
Deep in the rivers of New York
Mother, will I ever float?

The Fall
So, with our battles all won
And our judgements all done
Were embracing the distance
Between us
And wait for the final fall
From the fountain that covers all
To flood every riverbed
And free us
And we count the days
In all the childrens faces
And long for the Atlantis to arrive
As we wish for some clarity
I wish for you and you for me
As we long for Atlantis to decide
Weve travelled by many names
But every face wears the same
Untongued wrath of a man
And we count the days
In all the childrens faces
And long for the Atlantis to tide
As we wish for some clarity
Wish for you and for me
We never really could decide

Solid Dirt
Take me to the solid dirt
Invert this land
Let the stains revert
Unfold who we are
Through every scar
They used to shine like medals and stars

Take me to the spring that scatters

Its restless wings
Among our hearts
And we shall prevail
From this air
That breathes through us everywhere

Take me to where the daughters swim

To tease the boys
Hearts filled to the brim
Make me believe
Your heart will not flee
Into the horizon
Towards the endless sea

Once
I was just a boy
With a need to destroy
Now
I will be a man
I will rise from this land

Once
I was just a boy
With the urge to destroy
Once
I was just a boy
With scars to deploy

Let the bells ring

Let the air sing
Let the hearts bring
Their scars and submit to spring
Through solid dirt

Lamentation
I did not feel
The wind today
I could only feel the leaves
Worn from the fray
I did not read
This newborn sight
Through the hanging trees
I could only see the light
As it left
I did not hear
The shivering sound
Of treetops pushing
Up through the ground
I did not read
These newborn sparks
Through the wilting trees
I could only see the dark
As it came

Winter Bride
Oh, my winter bride
I will freeze my tides
Upon your chest
To suit you best

Oh, to wear the light

Through endless nights
Or beat the bones
Soon trapped in stone

Oh, but damn the sun

And every season gone
And their prophesies
Of the waiting sea

Oh, but damn the sun

And every season gone
And their prophesies
Of the waiting sea

Oh, my winter bride

How could we ever hide
Our daughters and sons
From such seasoned guns?

Oh, but damn the sun

And seasons gone
With their prophesies
Of the endless sea

Oh, but damn the sun

And every season gone
And their prophesies
Of the waiting sea

The Weight of Spring

I wore the dark
I watched the light undress the mark
The weight of spring
The darkness brings
I called for grace
In a lovers loss, in a distant face
As years were spent
And hearts were bent
Hearts were bent
I close my eyes to the sound of spring
What is there to see
In the songs they bring?
Love will never change
The morning sun
Love will never change
The way the darkness runs
I felt the doubt
Of a better man who had fallen out
And spring was bold
As hearts turned cold
Hearts turned cold
I close my eyes to the sound of spring
What is there to see
But the songs they bring?
Love will never change
The morning sun
Love will never change
The way the darkness runs

The Hours
I can see
Sailors and wifes
Wait out the skies
And under the kneeling sun
Days are done

I can see
Sailors and wifes
Imagining the eyes
Of storms stillborn
Held by their horns

I can see
Their sails unfold
Worn, on hold
As they wait for spring
And the seas it will bring

I can see
Summers turn cold
In the breath of the old
As they count ships at sea
And ways to be free

I could have sailed on the hour

On the winds of the day
With salt taste from the showers
Throughout every bay
I waited for fall
For days on end
The hours they all
Were so easily spent

I could have sailed on the hour

On the winds of the day
The sound of bell towers
Gently fading away
I waited for fall
With days to spend
The hours they all
So easily end

Lantern
I cursed the breath of sea
Spelled as poetry
The dreams I could explore
I left them by the door
I watched the lanterns tilt
Through days of darkened guilt
I prayed for newborn skies
To lift me up so high
I was blind, now I can see
Sweet mother, set me free
How could I ask for more?
Let them sisters soar
This land is more than dreams
These days are what they seem
No more darkened doors
Let them sisters soar

Love, Lay Me Blind

Lay Me by the Shore

How can I sleep

While aching for a pictured beauty
Of hearts poured
Upon the sea?
Like floating stones
Dressed in dreams
I once wore

Love
Lay me by the shore
On a bed of rising stones
Oh, my love
Untie me from my wearying bones

Love, lay me blind

Oh love, oh love
Love, read me blind
Oh love, oh love

Love
Pour my hours as sand
Once shaped as lines in my hands
My love
I tried to be the better man
Love
Lay me in the hollow tree
That wore the jetsam we did not need
Oh, my love
We swore to sail in bravery
Love
Remember me as you please
The songs I wrote to ease
My love
I hope they gave your heart
Some peace

Mother
I could see
From the rising sun
From the shadows on your chest
You were done
And we all tried not to waste our breath
Imagining the sound
Of the morning dew
That left the ground
I could see
Your silent face torn
From every wounded bone
You were worn
And we all tried not to waste our chance
To feel the pain
As the morning dew
Fell as rain
I wish I could see