Michele Solberg: Harvest Time

 

 

Harvest Time (XXII or 0- fool)

my diamond ring went to a pawnshop
bought a green dress that melts to my skin
a new tattoo of a dove and butterfly
flying so high, gonna leave my skin behind
it is harvest time

I spread my life on the front lawn
what didn’t sell, I gave away
the vultures came with their big trucks
and took what I could never love
it is harvest time

he ate my heart when I was torn apart
and then gave me life again
at the time all I felt was the gnawing pain
now all I can feel is the freedom
some may call me a fool for the way that I’ve lived
but their words fall like the leaves
because it is harvest time

don’t love a thing that won’t love back
I lost it all; now I can breathe again
I’m gonna drive to a field of sunflowers
and lay down like a tiger on its back
it is harvest time

 

 

For The Mama (III- empress)

cleaning bottles, changing booty,
nursing baby, feeling loopy
the lists spiral around
let’s drink another round for the mama

sleepless nights, babies cry
bellies big, shrink with time
relationships fall down
let’s drink another round for the mama

flap, flap
the angels are here
cooling tempers with the air of their wings
surely heaven will forever be open
to all the mamas who were not broken
by the heartache of love

no shower for mama grime
the clock ticks speeding time
the lists spiral around
let’s drink another round for the mama

baby’s tied to mama’s hip
and she just wants some wine to sip
and laughter the only sound
let’s drink another round for the mama
flap, flap
the angels are here
cooling tempers with the air of their wings
surely heaven will forever be open
to all the mamas who were not broken
by the heartache of love

mama has a gentle touch
her mind’s gone soft, can’t remember much
but her feet are on the ground
let’s drink another round for the mama

mama can be a kind queen
but when her crown falls off you can hear her scream
no peace to be found
let’s drink another round for the mama

 

 

Dogs Are On The Loose (IV- emperor)

they’ll take your house
they’ll take your rights
to turn a profit, they’ll take your life
they’ll take your prayers
they’ll take your Christ
to turn a profit, they’ll make him white
they’ll take your taxes
they’ll take your jobs
to turn a profit, they will rob
they’ll take your unions
they’ll take your books
to turn a profit, they’ll be crooks
the dogs are on the loose

they’ll take your votes
they’ll take your health
to turn a profit, increase their wealth
they’ll take your hopes
they’ll take your dreams
to oil the war machine
they’ll take your laws
deregulate
to live in a corporate state
a hunger
beyond compare
an endless pit beyond repair
the dogs are on the loose

there’s little time before they hit the cold ground
money is no cushion when you are falling down
you can’t take it with you when it’s time to go
the last words will be, “you reap what you sow”
the dogs are on the loose

they’ll take your water
they’ll take your oil
for a profit, they’ll steal the soil
throw you a bone
and insist
that they’re giving you a gift
and what they want is more control
the dogs are on the loose

 

 

Handful Of Thorns (The Waltz, V- lovers)

join hands as one searching for union
as arrows fly down, the truth slips out
feet shuffle round- left and right
we dance the waltz- dark and light

shadows move our hearts, break our words apart
we start to blame, feel the burn of the flame
feet shuffle round- left and right
we dance the waltz- dark and light

dark mirrors reflect the ways we disconnect
our love’s a slippery fiend in a burning stream
feet shuffle round- left and right
we dance the waltz- dark and light

what you see in me
you feel in yourself
a saint, a sinner, a holy crown
I am a handful of thorns you string across your brow
tear them down

melodies splinter into disharmony
but we still dance this song yearning to be free
feet shuffle round- left and right
we dance the waltz- dark and light

 

 

Bus (VII- chariot)

backseat devils whispering
weighted eyelids, drifting sleep
waking up to a crooked road
hands on the wheel, driving gloves
feathered wheels in the night
black tar anger and a raven’s cry
empty seats rattle with ghosts
all the Memories I can’t leave alone
crazy ain’t gonna drive this bus no more

I’ve been hard and weathered by shame
armored with grudges, armored with blame
I gave all my power away
foggy windows, blinding rain
turn the key, engine chokes
tailpipes rattle, clouds of smoke
moving forward with a serpent’s hiss
transformed by an angel’s fist
crazy ain’t gonna drive this bus no more

gonna leave this moon behind
this cold, cold sliver of silvery quiet
a sharp morning ray of light
escapes this long dark night
gonna lay down by your side
deep breath, close my eyes
your anger is just like mine
a heavy cloud in the sky
crazy ain’t gonna drive this bus no more

 

 

Sometimes (IX- hermit)

sometimes I feel like the hounds are chasing me
and I can’t quiet my mind
I gotta go far away
to a place all mine
sometimes I feel like no one else can see
all the ties that bind
I’ve got to break free
to search for my own light
I’ll come back
much brighter before
a single flame will light my path
and will lead me home

sometimes you look so disappointed
as I walk in the door
in those moments, there ain’t nothing I can do
to make you want me more
sometimes you’ve gotta go far away
and leave me behind
we all have a need
to search for our own light
you’ll come back
much brighter before
a single flame to light your path
and to lead you home
the kiss will be much sweeter now
the bed will be so warm
two people come together
who are strong on their own.

sometimes I feel the darkness calling me
whispering my name
I’ve gotta go and be alone
to be sane

 

 

Change Will Come In Time (X- fortune)

my wine glass in empty
we’re late getting home
but I still want to be out in the night
cause when I hold the lightning in
I can still hear the thunder cry
a change will come in time

discovering you
could take a lifetime
with all the dark places we hide
I’m gonna nail the sun up in the sky
a change will come in time

circling round are Jupiter’s moons
my fortune is to be here with you
this moment’s a chance to see right through
what separates me from you

my mind forgets
what my heart knows
the milky way in the Terlingua night
the city lights are left far behind
a change will come in time
truthful words
tears fall down
there’s nothing the desert air won’t dry
let’s hold each other until sunrise
a change will come in time

maybe it’s good, maybe it’s bad
these expectations, burning sand
bones and dreams, we’re just spokes in the wheel
inside out, we are bending still

you try and pack your bags
but the all the zippers are worn
there’s nothing left to do but cry
about all the stories that tear you up inside
A change will come in time

 

 

Between The Threads (XII- hanged man)

signed her timesheets, left a note
“I’m leaving work with a sore throat”
working sixty hours a week
home becomes an office seat
car radios blare the fearful news
this economy has got the blues
she’s invisible- ruled by a clock
strung upside down- tied to a rock

chorus:
hold on, you’ve got to hold on
you better find the space between the threads
hold on, you’ve got to hold on
xo you can make your way out of this spider’s web

she got a degree in the mail
thought she’d drunk from the holy grail
everyone wants a place to go
desperation will open that door
fluorescent lights, answering phones
her dreams are stripped to the bone
there’s just got to be something more
than being numb to the core

chorus:

for nine days she won’t leave her room
the television hums out of tune
like a snake whining underneath
the old ammunition has worn out teeth
you make plans; they are never enough
you just keep on doing the same old stuff
you have to be still and close your eyes
to find the strength between the lies

chorus:

been tangled in elastic time
with mumbled prayers and heavy sighs
she quit her job; she’s moving on
78 cries in a mockingbird’s song
dancing on the top of the trees
flying free high on the breeze
a long time since she’s noticed a thing
besides what’s on her computer screen

chorus:

 

 

Norden Bombsight (XVI- tower)

my grandpa’s cousin was a famous man
a bombadier in World War II
And on the Enola Gay
when Truman gave orders, he followed through
looking through a Norden bomb sight
in just moments, 80,000 people died

the men on the Superfortress
had never seen an atomic bomb
and over Hiroshima
when they reached they target
they did the job
looking through a Norden bomb sight
in just moments, 80,000 people died

how does the world look
flying in a B-29
the earth a boiling liquid
the sky a tremendous blinding light
what did he think when he realized
that when he pushed the button over 80,000 people died

my grandpa’s cousin lived to be 81
he grew a rose garden and went bass fishing with his sons
when he was asked about his life
he said he did a job that had to be done
when he closed his eyes late at night
did he feel the ghosts of the 80,000 people who died

I’ve heard a surrender was underway
When Truman decided to drop the bomb
he wanted to show the rest of the world
that America was mighty and strong
looking through a Norden bomb sight
in just moments 80,000 people died
looking through a Norden bomb sight
in just moments you could realize

 

 

Shine Again (XVII- star)

before he left for another woman
I felt invincibly pretty
like a superhero in a dress
he left the kids and took a bottle of scotch
called once a week
with a strained “I miss you” for the kids
we came to some agreements
books, money, and music
the kids got a key to his new place
I gave him a hard drive with all the pictures
birthdays and holidays
memories, now full of blame

chorus:
let it go- it is time
to feel the stars shining through the black night
I’ve still got music in my skin
I will shine again

I’ve been sleep walking into windows
you can tell by the scars on my face
the kids wake up and find me
with my head on the table
I fell asleep in the wrong place
they are gone every other weekend
I do the laundry and try to rest
find another dream
I used to laugh, used to sing
Now it’s just a struggle
to keep the couch clean

chorus:

when I read my daughter a goodnight story
with fairies and demons
that ends with vow and a ring
my voice wavers
I want to show her the strength
in surviving a bullet’s sting
a bottle of wine and some crying
usually leads to drunk dialing
late at night when anger roams free
something’s got to break
got to change
cause I feel the weight of my age

chorus:

the black night won’t swallow me whole
I’m growing wings on my soul

 

 

Dust Of The Moon (XVIII-moon)

the sun’s in the beetle’s pincers
moving in the night
blood drops from the moon
pomegranate blues
hibernate in the jackal’s belly
afraid to wake up
wings tear at the soil
ready to soar
cover me in the dust of the moon
don’t wait up for me
I’ll be home soon

your shadows show you
all that you deny
a classic abyss
in black and white
it takes all you’ve got
to keep your feet on the ground
to keep from wandering up
from the underground
cover me in the dust of the moon
don’t wait up for me
I’ll be home soon

the craters give footholds
so before sunrise
you can stand up tall
to reflect the light
the moon will strip
the meat from your bones
with a loving embrace
you will be reborn
cover me in the dust of the moon
pray for me that
I’ll be home soon