A Long Walk - Eleanor Friedberger

In the fall I waited

In the fall I was silent

In the fall I had an answer

But in spring I cried for you

I’m through with the seasons

And done with the sun

And the huge uncertainties;

Go eastward no one

The bricks singled out

When a building crumbles

Oh everything is ruining February!

We met up this morning

And laced up our walking shoes

First we fortified ourselves

With coffee and some juice

Weighing up the options

We set out for the day

We didn’t take umbrellas

‘Cause they’d just get in the way

It was almost nine o’clock

I said we’re going on a long, long, long, long walk

And when you started talking

I forgot that you get in the way

I couldn’t stop laughing

And our shoulders ricocheted

And all the local buskers

We gave them all our notes

We’d muddle through til dusk

Then we’d huddle in our coats

It was almost ten o’clock

And we were going on a long, long, long, long walk

And we didn’t worry or hurry

Or argue about which route to take

I forgot how to cross the road

But the drivers still know how to brake

And you told your little story

The one I’ve heard before

As I looked at our reflection

Windowshopping the department store

Hey look it’s eleven o’clock

In the morning of our long, long, long, long, long walk

In the fall I waited

In the fall I was silent

In the fall I had an answer

But in spring I cried for you

We improvised a silly song

And it worked just like a charm

I pulled you closer into me

And we were walking arm in arm

And no one noticed

When we leaned against a tree

You whispered a suggestion

‘Cause you knew that I’d agree

It was almost three o’clock

In the afternoon of our long, long, long, long walk

We weren’t paying attention

And ended where we hadn’t planned

Then we found that just by chance

We were walking hand in hand

We didn’t detach ourselves

Or catch the perfect view

But we kissed in front of strangers

Like regular lovers do

It was getting dark at five o’clock

In the evening of our long, long, long, long walk

I stopped to catch my breath

And turning ‘round you’re gone

But there this:

You know I’d bend to kiss

The ground we walked upon

And I was tired of walking

So I took the bus back home

We left my place together

But I wrote this song alone

It was only nine o’clock

I said we’re going on a long, long, long, long, long walk

Long, long, long, long, long, long walk