FISH EYE CURVE 

somewhere a child sits waiting
counting all the cars passing by
the wind hits the trees
and the leaves fall around him
tearing away from the sky

leaves turn to rain, turn to snowflakes
falling like his saved up nickels and dimes
all that he knows
is all he sees around him
the bell in the schoolyard chimes


Chorus
then suddenly all of the distances
and changes erase
as if you never left this place
or this face behind you
all the secrets locked up tight
in the pictures black and white
the fish eyed curve of light
will find you
unwind you
then bind you
enshrine you
define you

somewhere a woman stands weeping
hiding her young face from the cold
she's wrapped in a scarf
and an ancient woolen blanket
wrapped in the loss that she feels
growing old

walking the halls through the twilight
taking the red lantern she brings
the moon holding fast
and the stars spinning in the heavens
the bell in the old church rings

Chorus

somewhere a young man is drowning
holding his breath as he sinks
nothing to fear but the fear of being nothing
nothing but sadness he things

walking these streets lost in daydreams
the world moving fast on busy workday wheels
when there's nothing to hold
then there's nothing to surrender
the bell in the tower peels

Chorus

words © 2000 Richard Isen