Straw Cab

She stood there and she told me

"What you need does not matter"

as the final two or maybe three

bayonets of sunset slashed upon her forehead

behind me thunderheads gave warning

a cast-iron kettle drum beneath

the flailing limbs of tantrum child

annoying distant noises natural and horrid

you lied to me, you lied to me

you promised all, you lied to me

you gave your word

you promised everything, you lied to me

cast the caution, sling the shield

find them dying one fine day

cart them from the battlefield

heal them and they go away

cast the caution, sling the shield

find them dying one fine day

cart them from the battlefield

heal them and they go away

she smiled and said "He's coming soon

he gets the prize, I'll leave you to

your solitude in shaded room"

she leaned and laughed, "You never let me in, not really

"you saw the things you thought could be

dreamed dreams of love that never was

you never cared to see my side

beyond your dreams, or take the time to feel me

"you lied to me, you lied to me

you fronted hard, you lied to me

you spread it thick

you're not the man you said, you lied to me

"meet the girl and raise the shield

kid yourself that you're OK

care for her until she's healed

and wonder when she goes away

meet the girl and raise the shield

kid yourself that you're OK

care for her until she's healed

and wonder why she goes away"

the final bloom of summer's tan

flaked and fell from my left arm

she suggested with a grin and ran,

"Next year you should go try driving facing backwards"

I bounced the word against the wall

ahead, rewind, ahead, rewind

as her straw cab pulled to the curb

and ferried her to fields of hollow, shallow rapture