In an open field at dusk
To footfalls I awoke
Marching ants across my temples, oh
Their feet had no intention
They followed some magnetic drum
Prisoners of their destination
From the slats of the factory come
Where once they did make rails
Old Death's peculiar songs
He didn't know I was listening
So he crowed out nice and long
To the spiders and the lumber and the dust
Of his conquests and his hunger, and his lust
I heard his feet rejoice
I heard him tap his cane
As if he had his own review
Onstage at the Athenaeum
I caught his words in my open mouth
I gagged and choked and spit them out
I heard him turn as he did hear
My tiny heartbeat in his ear
I was already running
Oh I heard him coming
Shrapnel spitting from his wheels
His scything arms rake for my heels
I dove and rolled and hid my face
And I said these magic words
My dove is home, her breast is warm, my dove is home.
I said these magic words and
Fell down, down, the anthill
For days
My dove is home, her breast is warm, my dove is home.
My dove is home, her breast is warm, my dove is home