CANTO 83 sometimes you must break

 

Sometimes you must break into empty song

and you know and you know and you know it’s not for long

 

but the tin-tal rin-tal tin-tal rin-tal of the beat

sends you swaying sends you swaying sends you swaying down the street

 

so let the curve let the curve the curve curve curve of the line

come to you come to you come to you in time

 

you tongue softly on the reed

you breathe easy in your need

 

and let your lips and let your lips let your lips let your lips

shape the song it won’t be long won’t be long when that shadow slips

 

into the flame you are a flame you are aflame you are aflame

from one moment to the next you will never be the same

 

you’re playing lightly on the keys

so you can hear the breaking seas

 

they’re killing whales and filling jails and some can’t get enough to eat

your open hands come together come together until each feels the other’s heat

 

together in the dark in the dark together only in the dark for so long

some break into light come into the light some break into song

 

strings hum without a touch when they’re taut

you can give without giving it a thought

 

sometimes you must get up and thoughtless dance

make it long make it long oh stay long in such a trance