Ashen Birch

I walked the thorn line, baby With ash on my sleeve Your old bone charm still warm From the night you’d leave The river kept your secret Under black pine teeth Hear the hounds at the gate Hear the iron ring I’m not your tender prayer I’m the thing I bring Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, pull me down I know your name by the scar I know your name by the sound Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, hold me now I traced the rune in mud Where the crows broke bread You left a lamp in the reeds And a fox-red thread Now the hill keeps calling With your footsteps dead Hear the drums in the dirt Hear the sparks awake I don’t come empty I come to take Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, pull me down I know your name by the scar I know your name by the sound Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, hold me now Let the old names split Let the rootwork rise I bled for the open road I bled for the lies If you want my heart Come meet my eyes Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, pull me down I know your name by the scar I know your name by the sound Ashen birch, take my hand Ashen birch, hold me now