[Male bass, sparse upright piano and bowed cello, unhurried, wide space between phrases.] [Verse 1] snowy footprints pause at the old tree that knows things that knows things— whole universes bend to listen [Chorus] no one knows how silence begins— yet here we are [Verse 2] still marked an echo wore my coat down the hill at bedtime I fold my body like old maps [Verse 3] my old cat hears the Great Silence— then yawns twice on the wall a penny waited all year [Chorus] no one knows how silence begins— yet here we are [Bridge] perfect in green a doorway made of silence opens a bit [Verse 4] the rain returns wearing quieter shoes now even the cat waits time to come upstairs moonlight sleeping on the rug we step over it [Instrumental] [Verse 5] enjoy while you can the plums have turned purple not quite ready for kites spring climbing the warm sky I let go [Chorus] no one knows how silence begins— yet here we are —————- Lyrics: Mario Caoile
