You can have this body.
It is only a borrowed thing
made up of grass and mud
of burning stardust
and everything I ate
and everything that was
eaten by what I ate
every drop of water drank
every particle and wave
of those lovely raving solar rays.

I am only a place holder
for the next thing.
So, you can have this
soft body for the breaking
for the decomposing
and atomic, molecular reshaping,

But the dreams our mine
as are my thoughts.
For all that was gained
taken or lost
you cannot have my heart.
Unless, I decide to give it to you later.

Today I saw the strangest thing--
Do you know what I saw?
It was a bird, without the wings
His song was just an awful, "Caw!"

I tried to hold it, pick it up,
But all he did was peck
I took him in, gave him a home
He left his room a wreck

He felt too good to help with the grubs
Among the plants in the garden bed
And when I offered him meals at night,
He felt too proud to let himself be fed

He couldn't fly or flap or sing
Or learn to heed man's law
But should a friendly dog look to me for a pat,
He'd let out his boisterous "Caw!"

After months of the mercy I'd felt for this creature,
I had been much more patient than most
But that morning he'd gone,
all he left was a note, and it said,
"You're a terrible host"

Come taste the southern-sweet-tea air
Unlock your locks of nut-brown hair
Just take my hand, I'll treat you well
Come sing, my soft Atlanta belle!

We'll dance all night
(It's not a crime!)
Under charmed old light,
We'll step in time

Our feet tickle the floorboards
Kicking, shuffling, and rushing
While my Georgia-doll baby
Is smiling and blushing
And the music is swift
It's soulful, it's gushing

You're a ripe strawberry
In a sweet, **** pie
Lips rouged like  dark cherry
Eyes just like the sky

And when the newborn day rises
All the star time will pass
You will wake in my arms
In fresh morning-dew grass