I cut the ribbon
That was tangled in my hair
And I was free from the person
Who said they liked it there
Then I littered in the gutter
And slipped it through the grating
Into the dark city water
Full of flotsam downstream waiting
I cut the twine
Wrapped around a shiny box
That held the gift that I’d been given
a joyless paradox
to keep it is to knot up
or to fray at every edge
to hold on means to slip off
and be alone instead
well it’s more than I had wanted to let go
cast off, slip stitches, just so
I broke the bottle
That launched a thousand ships
They were full of teary cargo
But unloaded all of it
And stacked on the docks
Are the trunks and all the luggage
Stow it soon, stevedores
I will wave my farewell hanky from the shore
Though it’s more than I had wanted to let go
May I never hear a call out - land ho
Light cannot make it
To the Mariana Trench
Still some garbage must be glowing
Deep within the ocean’s depths
But what I’ve tossed out will be broken down
Into degrading bits
For no solid thing was ever there
And I know not to wish for permanence
And it’s more than I had wanted to let go
Hoist up, deep six it, heave ho
credits
from Four Songs from Then,
released January 29, 2023
Lyrics and music: Martha Atwell
Vocals and acoustic guitar: Martha Atwell
Ably assisted by Michael Jones, all other instruments and recording
Mixed by Aidan Finn
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