he stays away
he stays away to stay safe
safe from wanting
and looking
and bleeding from the gum

alone searching for sad songs
at dead of night
alone when cramped in crowd
alone when waking up
in so many shallow beds
alone searching for release
for a drip of touch
like a beggar seeking water
way beyond the river's edge
alone and just the same
as all the other empty lovers
full to overflowing

one night off
for one night on
tomorrow he goes back into the shadow
drinks himself into her skin
drinks himself back into believing
all he needs to make everything alright
is just another drink
one night off
for one night on
tomorrow he takes another woman by the eye
and leads her on
makes her come
just to prove he also
is someone

needs no one
needs everyone
needs no one
but her
but not her,
not a thing

he was walking up the mountain the last time I saw him
said he was going to make a sacrifice
it was early morning
everything was fresh
and I do believe he still
lives