rexroth's daughter

coldest night of the winter working up my farewell

in the middle of everything under no particular spell

i am dreaming of the mountains where the children learn the stars

clouds roll in from nebraska dark chords on a big guitar

my restlessness is long gone i would stand here like an old jack pine

but i'm looking for rexroth's daughter the friend of a friend of mine

i can't believe your hands and mouth did all that to me

are so daily naked for all the world to see

that thunderstorm in michigan i never will forget

we shook right with the thunder & with the pounding rain got wet

where did you turn when you turned from me with your arms across your chest

i am looking for rexroth's daughter i saw her in the great northwest

would she have said it was the wrong time if i had found her then

i don't want too much a field across the road and a few good friends

she used to come & see me but she was always there & gone

even the very longest love does not last too long

she'd stand there in my doorway smoothing out her dress

& say this life is a thump-ripe melon--so sweet and such a mess"