When I Have Arms Again

©2002 Andrew Calhoun

Someday I will tell you
When you are old and wise
How moon broke me in pieces
And sun burned out my eyes
And someday I will give you
These crystals along with
An echo from the edges
Of unalterable myth
The underpinning engine
Of how and why and when
And I will write that story down
When I have arms again

I limp along one pale strand
That stretches into ten
To knit a scarf of footsteps
That bridges now and then
The one and holy Mother
The armory of dreams
The stamp of our illusions
And everything it means
One card lost in the shuffle
Might still be found and then
I'll test these hungry waters
When I have arms again

I made fine wings of magic
Of wood and wax and art
Where all that blends together
Unbends and comes apart
Some say my wings were melted
Some say they were burned
And some say it was circumstance
And some say it was earned
For you who do say nothing
My silence to befriend
I'll paint the splendid colors out
When I have arms again

You trembled at my daring
You marvelled at the lift
As I went soaring over you
The everlasting gift
Delivered out of darkness
All dumbstruck in the sun
Old moon she stuck a knife in me
And twisted it for fun
And so I spun like laughter
Beyond your sorrow's end
But I will come to comfort you
When I have arms again