a lifetime

(Down the road from your memory track 2)

we sat together in Audubon Park

as the dawn brightened 

I look down at you and felt alight

but with no one next to me I felt alone

you were not yet born

just tingles in my bones

and I wished for a good omen

and some simple twist of fate

I’d gone south to New Orleans

to make ourselves a home

but ended up livin’ out of strange motels

under vacancy lights that flickered

in the night like they were warring with the stars

I begged for quarters with a cup

most nights I couldn’t sleep

perhaps I feared to dream or the ticking of

the clocks reminded me I’d soon give birth

to thee and I had nothing left to give

they say healing from abuse

takes a lifetime to lose

so there were moments 

I contemplated losing mine

but I held something precious inside

you were a diamond

reminded me to look on high

at the lioness in the sky

so I could roar instead of cry 

it was there I found my strength

enough to make my own fateful day