Nightwatchmen

To the girl among nightwatchmen

My other, my joy

With your oil-drum fire

You were my gentle unfolding

The wool and the dye

The needle and eye

These songs you sing

As you waltz her up the stairs

And the boy smiles

At the wheels of the chair

We are loved for these

Things that pass us by

All we're good for

As the sand flows into the hourglass

You hold every grain

That it might remain

Part of me wants to see you crumble

Like those toys on a plinth

Pool of alabaster limbs

Into my arms,

So that I might have my place

Although the crutch may just

Serve to dull the only blade

That you brought to this fight

Let's go another round

Let's go another round

To the girl among nightwatchmen

The long fingers of morning

Will take you by the hand

Precious stones,

They're all spoken for

You've chosen the tunes,

Everything is just so, just so

And now birdsong,

Ice clinking in the sun

Dripfeed

Of gentle talk

And pleasantries

And I wait for a gap in the traffic

To tell her I'll always hold you close

It's all I'm good for