West Of Her Spine - Bell X1

She asked me to work on that knot

Now I’ve been at that

Coalface some time

I’ve been trying to untie that knot

I’m trying to work it to a soft spot

And lie there a while

Just south of her shoulder

And west of her spine

Now you’d think that I could

Untie that knot

I’m the one who put it there in

The first place

But it’s like trying to remember

Where you’ve buried treasure

Well I’ve a vague idea

But it was under the pale moon light

And I was south of her shoulder

And west of her spine

Sometimes early in the morning

I watch her breathing rise and fall

I’ve spilled in drunk beside her

In the stillness of dawn

See how her hair spills over

Like frayed ends of twine

All wild and wrapped around her

Like these wandering arms of mine

Well I hope they find a soft spot

Where I can lie for a while

Just south of her shoulder

And west of her spine

Now careful not to wake her

I trace back along the twine

To where her never endings sing

Of too much of my time

It’s here I’ll rest my chin

And breathe her deep and smile

For I think I’ve found a soft spot

And I’ll lie here a while

It’s here I’ll raise my flag

And claim this land as mine

Just south of her shoulder

And west of her spine