St. Modesto

Saint Modesto,

You were the ground line humming.

You were the thread of fire upon this night.

You could feel the living -

You staggered and blew your money,

A summery tailwind there upon our heels,

Me and you.

All down the valley,

You'd drag me along for measure.

The boredom was deafening at any speed.

Still, I could hear your breathing.

You were as loud as the engine's gravel,

Winding through Altamont, towards the sea,

You and me.

If you're the one who can save this broken wreck

Then this is the end -

We'll be through soon, I suspect.

Don't argue, these are facts.

San Francisco,

Eighty and four miles later:

We were the vapor trails among the hills;

And there above us

An antenna of God, a broadcast,

The table of contents right down through the trees.

We were the pixels on the fallen leaves.

What do we do?

Are you the one who can save this gory mess?

I know you're a friend.

You've been right and true, I guess.

I know you'd take one on the chin,

You'd take it in the teeth for me.

We are a team, but we are untied.

I'm sinking with the weight

Of all the things I cannot do,

But when I'm losing it,

I know you're losing it too.

Saint Modesto,

You were the guitar I'm strumming.

You were the power cord that made the light.