Am C
The diver is my love
G Am F
(& I am his, if I am not deceived),
F Am G Am
who takes one breath above, for every hour below the sea
Am C
who gave to me a jewel
G Am F
worth twice this woman's life (but would cost her less
F
than laying at low tide,
Am G Am
to see her true love phosphoresce)
( C )
& in an infinite regress:
G Am
Tell me, why is the pain of birth
G Am
lighter borne than the pain of death?
G F
I ain't saying that I loved you first,
C Bb
but I loved you best
Am C
I know we must abide
G Am F
each by the rules that bind us here:
F Am G Am
the divers, & the sailors, & the women on the pier
Am C
But how do you choose your form?
G Am F
How do you choose your name? How do you choose your life?
Am
How do you choose the time you must exhale,
G Am
& kick, & writhe?
C
& in an infinite capsize:
G Am
Like a bull tearing down the coast,
G Am
double hulls bearing double masts—
G F C Bb
I don't know if you loved me most, but you loved me last
Am C
Recall the word you gave:
G Am F
to count your way across the depths of this arid world,
F
where you would yoke the waves,
Am G Am
and lay a bed of shining pearls!
Am C
I dream it every night:
G Am F
the ringing of the pail,
( F )
the motes of sand dislodged,
( F )
the shucking, quick & bright;
( F ) Am G Am
the twinned & cast-off shells reveal a single heart of white
( C )
& in an infinite backslide:
G Am
Ancient border, sink past the West,
G Am
like a sword at the bearer's fall
G F
I can't claim that I knew you best,
C Bb
but did you know me at all?
Am C
A woman is alive!
G Am F
A woman is ali-ve;
( F ) ( F )
you do not take her for a sign in nacre on a stone,
Am G Am
alone, unfaceted & fine
Am C
& never will I wed
G Am F
I'll hunt the pearl of death to the bottom of my life,
( F )
& ever hold my breath,
Am G Am
'til I may be the diver's wife
( C )
See how the infinite divides:
G Am
& the divers are not to blame
G Am
for the rift, spanning distant shores
G F
You don't know my name,
C Bb
but I know yours