The Earth in Its arcane wisdom

offers no explanations.

Only wind, 

the plainclothes seraphs

to fall leaves upon our graves.

And rain 

to revive those ancient scents, 

indecipherable.

Finally, there is fire to eat what remains.

The fierce and lovely savage

to replenish what grew us.

Oh, the Earth.

Its expansive silence is the only thing

that can absorb every sorrow.

(Dedicated to J.)

in other words

Farewell Reel by Patti Smith:

Its been a hard time

And when it rains

It rains on me

The sky just opens

And when it rains

It pours

I walk alone

Assaulted it seems

By tears of heaven

And darling I can't help

Thinking those tears are yours

Our wild love came from above

And wilder still

Is the wind that howls

Like a voice that knows its gone

'Cause darling you died

And well I cried

But I'll get by

Salute our love

And send you a smile

And move on

So darling farewell
all will be well
and then all will be fine
the children will rise
strong and happy be sure
cause your love flows
and the corn still grows
and God only knows
we're only given
as much as the heart can endure

But I don't know why
but when it rains
it rains on me
the sky just opens
and when it rains
it pours

But I look up
and a rainbow appears
like a smile from heaven
and darling I can't
help thinking that smile
is yours

*Click here to listen*

(look in the upper right corner to play)

PS: I need to say this- I really hate the line "God only knows we're only given as much as the heart can endure".. it seems so contrary to Alicia's death. Obviously, suicide is a response to a person being given more than the heart can endure. However, I was inspired to edit the post to include the lyrics in full, particularly because of the last verse.

-08/17/09