mister one man
the one man that i always knew
you called me your crystal child
& now someone’s calling you
the shiny bells you’re hearing now
are reflected in your eyes
you’re fingering your spectacles
you’re laying them aside
nestled in your armchair
with the sunshine shining down on you
nestled in your sweater as
it nips the light from you
the sun’s mouth it is puckered now
like a lemon in the sky
the yellow casts a shadow
like a shepherd at your side
fingering your elbow now
i know that someone calls for you
but stay for one more diamond day
one golden afternoon
let me stretch a checkered cloth
beneath the golden sky
let a kettle sing for you
let a dog rest at your side
let me find a poster board
so i can fan a little breeze for you
let me share some cake with you
so the crumbs can wave goodbye
let me slide my fingers down
those knuckles that have worked for you
stricken stiff like soldiers let me
whisper a goodbye
i can hear that tea-bell ring
& marmalade it waits for you
but stay for one more diamond day
one golden afternoon
your heart applies it’s bifocals now
you’re seeing near & far
your body’s like a planet now
the sun is like a star
what do you remember now
with a foot on every shore
are there ladies here surrounding you
are there children on the floor?
have memories turned golden
have they fallen down like leaves
crushed beneath your walking shoes
pressed flat beneath your feet
does your coat have pockets
is a knapsack at your side
there’s a coin i saved & a photograph i’d like
to tuck somewhere inside
that tapping hand across your back
that’s me letting go of you
but stay for one more diamond day
one golden afternoon