lost in translation

for corwin and some other folks

once i walked in a forest deep
the animals spoke to me
and i learned the secrets of the stones
and confided in the trees
i don't really remember what we talked about
but i miss the company

once i was a creature of language
every word was an open cage
now i'm writing in a burning book
see the words turn to smoke on the page
it could have been love or lives of the saints
but it all comes out as rage

chorus:
something's been lost in translation
i can't tell you what i mean
but now silence feels like liberation
and a whisper would come out like a scream
and i would tell you anything
if i could tell you anything

talk and truth might be sisters
but said is not the same as done
and every time i try to open my mouth
the cat tears out my tongue
i'd do anything to hear your voice
but it's like the midnight sun

and you could tell me anything
if there were any telling me anything

(January-March 1998)