The Longing from TheyLoveThem by TheyLoveThem

The smoke billows up from between your fingers like a cold midwinter fire.
And there’s a sense of longing that comes from losing everything that you desire.

Blow the pain away.
Sleep all day.

“Hey now,” you say, “hey now. Don’t look so sad.
On the last day of winter it can’t all be bad.
Things will be changing come the spring.
Ice will thaw. Birds will sing.”

I grab a drink for the first time in years. I hold it up to the sky.
This is for everything that you taught me. To love. To let live. And to lie.

Don’t drink the pain away. Don’t wait for another day.

“Hey now,” I hear, “hey now. Don’t look so sad.
On the last day of summer it can’t all be bad.
Things will be changing come the fall.
Nights grow long. Love grows tall.”

Give me a kiss on both cheeks.
One for now and one for next week.
After that you’ll be alone.
But I will be with you when you feel most at home.

The sun catches my eyes like a spotlight on the child with their first case of stage fright.
I look around waiting for my line, and then I blink again and it’s night. Well that’s alright.

I’ll just write the day away. Come what may.

“Hey now,” I say, “hey now. Don’t look so sad.
On the last day of winter it can’t all be bad.
Things will keep changing come the spring.
Frozen hearts will thaw. Birds will sing.”

• Folk
• acoustic
• antifolk
• band
• experimental
• Philadelphia