#14 of 20.
the first word
dare to approach
the frozen wave
haunting
the golden floodplain
cupping hands to roaring
blue wounds
the memories of the world
scoured the earth
the dirt
to find the first word
like a stone could
be coaxed to bleed
freight trains of rain
unchained
the cloud forest maimed
broken shovels up
both my sleeves
called off the search
it hurt
don’t know which is worse
holding tighter
or letting go
offered my throat
my hope
from watchtower ghost
to a miner
of melting snow
finally found the first clue
what i’d been missing
fell into the deep dark blue
and i just listened
i just listened
(from “raised by swans is the name of a man, vol. 2: run with the silent wildfires”. available now. all lyrics and music written and performed by e. howden)