Secret Words

Secret Words
by Paul Bowles

Far within your face I saw the night
And in the night I saw the stars
And then the stars became your eyes
Awaiting secret words from me
But that can never never be
Because I know the night has sealed your heart.

Oh, sing a song of lands where we might have wandered, long, long ago.

Sing a song of days when the earth was younger
Days we’ll never know.

Far within the night I heard the sea
And on the sea I heard the wind
And then the wind became your voice
Entreating secret words from me
But this shall never, never be.

The dark has sealed your heart.