Glinda's Promise

Between howls of toads and the owl

a ribbon ascends into night

from where you threw in the towel

to the luring sea devil’s light

Can’t take you back to what’s over

relitigate visions you’ve lost

can’t rewrite songs you once covered

or exchange an unopened box

This gift the wind dropped in your lap

rolled under the fence, now it’s gone

an empire proud of its columns

lies in the dandelion lawn

They came for you the way they do

the stunted chatters all set in

chased you toward the Emerald City

before your legend could begin

How can you find the right offramp

to some sky where you’re the star

a passage through the dark desert

to dawns subpoenaed by guitar?

When you try to solve that puzzle

it seems to have no solution

they gave you dreams and a muzzle

named your ideals illusion

And still I’m crooning deep in that dream

one where we’re together again

the spring where the clouds look like cream

and sequoias creak in the wind

In time you’ll fall back to the ground

summer’s glimmer will shine and fade

but you’ll find that magical sound

shines on in the music we made:

My soul’s got wings and a roar

loud as rivers swollen with truth

it floats unseen beside the shore

no matter what I am with you

I suffered, I died, I remain

my old songs bring comfort somehow

my promise alleviates pain

because I think of you right now