Interpretation

for Lalah
Tim'm T. West
(c) 2007, Red Dirt Publishing

born of the elements
Earth, Wind, Fire
heart palpitates for it
this song heard moons ago
though not really
is the air i breathe
when my lungs fail
and because she sings it
this woman who sees through me
everytime she's looked at me
i will be okay ... today
am uncomfortably safe
in her watch
especially when miles away
comforted by her heavenly contralto
don't have to be stronger
with her at ear's reach
she knows better
am strongest not pretending.
so today the harmonies
hold me tighter
than the words

at 5th listen
tears come
i am burdened
feeling i was born to long so
for love
that i have tried
to make words become flesh
breathe life into possibility.
this song, like so many others
must have been written in my mouth
at birth
for a moment yet to come
not unlike "heaven knows",
"come along with me",
"a moment" or "more"
this "lover's holiday"
is the kiss of life
i have yet to taste
for keeps

heart
has been growing thirsty
by the day
for this holiday
sweat and tears
have not yet quinched
the pull for lips
not my own
arms that take better care
of this brown flesh
than i can.
for all the self love i can muster
i grow more tender with touch
am man enough to admit:
I don't want to do this living
alone...
body often bound to bed
sleepless
nostalgic for a future
when i can look back
share a slow dance
to this and other interpretations
and understand
none of this clumsy loving
i have done
is without purpose

someday
I will extend a hand
lock another's in mine
place it by this same beating heart
still syncopating with songs
interpreted by this angel
this siren
born to sing for and keep me
hopeful
and ask:
"would you mind?"