Made of Straw

You spoke it plain and speak it still
how once they moved across the sill
and left it stripped and fit to crack,
but now they’ve fallen further back
You count yourself a fragile hem
to hang until you’re taken in
or sewn into a feathered throw,
forever sleeping, sheet to chin
You can swallow all you need to keep around
They will follow when the sun goes down
You were hollow when they made their rounds
You were hollow when the sun went down
You were hollow when the sun went down
Set out to drown the weeks,
but now they’re bound
to drag their feet
face down and fast asleep,
forgotten how they came to meet
From a curtain made of straw
and twine that cut the frosted air,
I know exactly what I saw--
I saw what simply wasn’t there
No name for what you want
You kept it safe, it kept too long,
tripped a vein and stepped upon
a worry I had left for gone
You can swallow all you need to keep around
They will follow when the sun goes down
You were hollow when they made their rounds
You were hollow when the sun went down
You were hollow when the sun went down