Broken Feeder
©2003 Andrew Calhoun, recorded on Shadow of a Wing.
There's a broken feeder on the backporch
It was a gift he gave her before he passed away
She bought more feeders for the backyard
For the nuthatches and bushtits
And the rufus-sided towhee
And the pretty Townsend's warbler
And she scattered seed for the quail
When he died, he died in her arms
When he died, he died in her arms
And she did not say the right thing
And she could not save his life
She wore a shroud of loneliness
She wore a robe of grace
And those that offered comfort
Found strength in her embrace
But the cards and flowers stop coming
And she gave herself to grieving
With the flame of love still burning
And cruel November turning
And all day he is dying
And all day he is dying
One night she woke up trembling
Her heart so swiftly racing
Her face and his are blending
And both of them are dying
And both of them are dying
She calls a friend and 911
To come to save her life
They gave her pills to calm her
And her steady friend stays over
The body goes on breathing
And there really are no words
For why she rose that morning
And went to feed the birds.