Angel Living In My Hometown

on our knees in the cathedral

the golden sun is coming through the wall

we play, and throw our heads back,

and lean in–eyes open–to the fall.

talk to god in the chapel

ask if there will ever be a way

to keep my head, and keep your heart 

safe through it all

ask if I could ever say

that hands, and faces,

and chords the pull you in

and those fateful bruises

still shining on my skin 

and angel,

living in my home town…

and I, so cold, so trembling, so long 

and time so holy, so broad, so tall

and angel, so lonely, so warm, so proud

talked to god in the chapel

asked if there would ever be a way

to keep your head, and keep my heart, safe through it all…

asked if ever i could stay

with hands, and faces,

and chords that play the hymn

a million embraces 

still warm on my skin

on our knees in the cathedral 

the golden sun is coming through the wall

the branches reach into heaven

the stars, like shattered windows, start to fall 

on our knees in the cathedral

the roots go deep into the ground 

the waking birds, and hidden angels 

all their singing — just to drown you out