THE WAY THE WAVES COME

you sent me this picture
I hold in my hand
a man sits alone in a chair
and the air hangs like billowing darkness
you see the wind blowing soft through his hair

the message you sent of the things that have changed
the pictures I make in my head
have led me to see
that we're destined to be
the things that cannot be said

so this is the way that the waves come
little loves, little needs in the sand
and you're alone
still you thought you could save some
then the waves come
and the waves come

the wondering, wandering places I've been
thinking I'd answered the call
but it's not what I wanted
after all of these things
have teetered and finally fall

so this is the way that the waves come
little hopes, little dreams in the sand
and you're alone
still you thought you could save some
then the waves come
and the waves come

stars
I see stars
no one else can see
stars through clouds
pouring down on me

bring me a way to get through these days
believing that time makes amends
but memory strangely will make it's own way
through the shadows that linger and bend

so this is the way that the waves come
little hopes, little needs in the sand
and you're alone
still you thought you could save some
then the waves come
and the waves come

and the waves come . . .

words © 2000 Richard Isen