You Will Not Take My Heart Alive

And what do you remember most?

The line of the sea, seceding the coast?

Fine capillaries, glowing with cars?

The comfort you drew from the light of the stars?

And how long did you climb that night

With the ice in your lungs, on the rungs of the light?

Beyond recall, you severed all strings

To everyone, and everything

Oh, silent, constant driver of mine

Wordlessly calling from the end of the line

Where, even though each hour I ever loved

Must queue and dive

Still, you will not take my heart, alive

In martial wind, and in clarion rain

We minced into battle, wincing in pain

Not meant for walking, backs bound in twine

Not angel or devil

But level, in time

And I rose, to take my shape at last

From the dreams that had dogged me, through every past

When, to my soul, the body would say

You may do what you like

As long as you stay

Now the towns and forests, highways and plains

Fall back in circles like an emptying drain

And I won't come round this way again

Where the lonely wind abides

And you will not take my heart, alive

You will not take my heart