7. CITRINE

Citrine

Citrine, birthstone for November
Touchstone of an autumn crime
Always you will remember
The coming of winter
In the dead of that Paris night, Citrine

Citrine he whispered things
You believed you’d never hear
He pulled the strings of your desire
Until nothing mattered, until that night
He said everything would be all right
But you saw something in his eyes, Citrine

Citrine, birthstone for November
Accomplice in an autumn crime
That bank you will remember
His eyes the color of winter
In the dead of that Paris night, Citrine

Citrine you fled south to save yourself
Cold and hard the mistral wept
Empty of color the fields of wheat and rye
You stopped to rest and hide there by the sullen sea
Only to sleep alone, alone Citrine

Paris still haunts you and all of your secrets
You did the best an innocent could
Words to warn, words to save, words to kill
Gunshot and powder and unmarked bills

Citrine now the sea will take you
Cleanse you in the silence of release
He is gone to the walls of Sante Prison
You dive and you will fly deep, fly free, free Citrine

Citrine, birthstone for November
Accomplice in an autumn crime
That bank you still remember
His eyes the color of winter
In the dead of that Paris night
Citrine, birthstone for November
Touchstone of an autumn crime
Always you will remember
The coming of winter
In the dead of that Paris night
Your dress blue black his skin so white
As I who watched you, I ache for you
In this letter I write, Citrine