Woodcutter’s Children

Women play games their mothers taught them

Men take aims their fathers bought them

So far back down the road that they don't know

From where it came, how to let it go

Let it go

All of your life you were the object of his wrath

Forever on the wrong path and he always let you hear about it

The love you shared

Misered and uncertain and yet true

He always expected more of you

Go where he lies

On his dying bed

Take his hand

Forgive the man

Don't let him go with all of those things unsaid

You had the life

Always free of want

Sheltered from the taunts that drove so many others crazy

Built of their love

A fortress to protect you from the blows

Meanwhile your cup still overflows

How long, how long

How long will you hide

Take the test

Split the nest

Nothing to show with both of those wings untried

I know it's hard not to feel like the woodcutter's children sometimes

Stumbling on a bread house in the woods

Is this a sweet dream

Come of age

Or just another well-laid trap by a witch up to no good

How little we've outgrown

Like refugees we roam, no crumbs to show us home

Swore on your life

You were cut of different cloth

You really cut a swath to hear you tell about it

Somewhere, some way

Caught between the dawn and decay

Lost your footing and so were swept away

Like those before

Though you may pretend

Open your eyes

To your vain disguise

For after all, you're really so much like them

I know it's hard not to feel like the woodcutter's children sometimes

Stumbling on a bread house in the woods

Is this a sweet dream

Come of age

Or just another well-laid trap by a witch up to no good

How little we've outgrown

Like refugees we roam

No crumbs to show us home

How little we've outgrown

Like refugees we roam

No crumbs to show us home

How little we've outgrown

Like refugees we roam

No crumbs to show us home

© Charlie Vavra, Right Riffs of Dover

Previous
Previous

Ports of Boulder

Next
Next

False Starts