A Desperate Dance, a Losing, One-Hand Fight

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(Pre-Chorus)
A warning flutter, a phantom hand
A cold kiss on the skin I didn’t plan
My palms press down, a practiced, silent plea
Not here, not now, please, not for him to see.
A memory of playground laughs and pointing hands
A shiver deep that no one understands.

(Verse 2)
A gasp that strangled in my throat and died
As cool air traced the pattern I must hide
Those little ducks, a cheerful, yellow fleet
Parading their mockery in the crushing heat
Time stretched like taffy, slow and thin and cruel
I saw you turn, I broke a fundamental rule
My dignity took flight, a feckless, tattered thing
Caught on a crag where the seagulls wheel and sing.

(Bridge)
And the choice was drown or call your name
A different kind of nakedness, a different kind of shame
To ask for help for the very thing you stole
The air so heavy, taking its slow toll
You brought it back, your eyes fixed on the ground
The kindest act, the most silent sound.

(Verse 3)
I still wear the skirt.
I feel the phantom gust, the ancient hurt.
But sometimes now, I catch my own reflection
And see not a flaw, but a strange affection
For the girl who stood, completely stripped and bare
And found the only thing that was left there
Was her. Just her.
And the wind, and the sea, and no more fear.

(Chorus)
And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep
Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep
A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight
Against the gulf, the unforgiving light
Then the world went still for a beat, a crime
My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme
Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you
A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue.
And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep
Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep
A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight
Against the gulf, the unforgiving light
Then the world went still for a beat, a crime
My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme
Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you
A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue.

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(Verse 1) Sunset bleeds on Portofino stone My pleated skirt, a shield I’ve always known The sea-salt air, a whisper, a caress A moment’s peace before the wilderness Thought I was alone on the coastal ledge A private world there on the harbor’s edge But the wind’s a thief in the golden hour And it found the measure of my fragile power. (Pre-Chorus) A warning flutter, a phantom hand A cold kiss on the skin I didn’t plan My palms press down, a practiced, silent plea Not here, not now, please, not for him to see. A memory of playground laughs and pointing hands A shiver deep that no one understands. (Chorus) And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight Against the gulf, the unforgiving light Then the world went still for a beat, a crime My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue. (Verse 2) A gasp that strangled in my throat and died As cool air traced the pattern I must hide Those little ducks, a cheerful, yellow fleet Parading their mockery in the crushing heat Time stretched like taffy, slow and thin and cruel I saw you turn, I broke a fundamental rule My dignity took flight, a feckless, tattered thing Caught on a crag where the seagulls wheel and sing. (Pre-Chorus) A warning flutter, a phantom hand A cold kiss on the skin I didn’t plan My palms press down, a practiced, silent plea Not here, not now, please, not for him to see. A memory of playground laughs and pointing hands A shiver deep that no one understands. (Chorus) And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight Against the gulf, the unforgiving light Then the world went still for a beat, a crime My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue. (Bridge) And the choice was drown or call your name A different kind of nakedness, a different kind of shame To ask for help for the very thing you stole The air so heavy, taking its slow toll You brought it back, your eyes fixed on the ground The kindest act, the most silent sound. (Verse 3) I still wear the skirt. I feel the phantom gust, the ancient hurt. But sometimes now, I catch my own reflection And see not a flaw, but a strange affection For the girl who stood, completely stripped and bare And found the only thing that was left there Was her. Just her. And the wind, and the sea, and no more fear. (Pre-Chorus) A warning flutter, a phantom hand A cold kiss on the skin I didn’t plan My palms press down, a practiced, silent plea Not here, not now, please, not for him to see. A memory of playground laughs and pointing hands A shiver deep that no one understands. (Chorus) And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight Against the gulf, the unforgiving light Then the world went still for a beat, a crime My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue. And the wind, it pulled a hurricane from the deep Tugged at the wool, secrets I meant to keep A desperate dance, a losing, one-hand fight Against the gulf, the unforgiving light Then the world went still for a beat, a crime My silk beige briefs, with their stupid, smiling rhyme Held up for the cliffs, the gulls, the sea, for you A flag of shame in a sky of perfect blue.

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