Houses - Judy Collins

You have many houses, one for every season

Mountains in your windows, violets in your hands

Through your English meadows your blue-eyed horses wander

You’re in Colorado for the Spring

When the Winter finds you, you fly to where it’s summer

Rooms that face the ocean, moonlight on your bed

Mermaids swift as dolphins paint the air with diamonds

You are like a seagull as you said

Why do you fly bright feathered sometimes in my dreams?

The shadows of your wings fall over my face

I can feel no air, I can find no peace

Brides in black ribbons, witches in white

Fly in through windows, fly out through the night

Why do I think I’m dying sometimes in my dreams

I see myself a child running through the trees

Searching for myself, looking for my life

Looking everywhere crawling on my knees

I cannot see the leaves, I cannot see the light

Then I see you walking just beyond the forest

Walking very quickly, walking by yourself

Your shoes are silver, your coat is made of velvet

Your eyes are shining, your voice is sweet and clear

«Come on» you say «come with me, I’m going to the castle»

All the bells are ringing, the weddings have begun

But I can only stand here-I cannot move to follow

I’m burning in the shadows and freezing in the sun

There are people with you living in your houses

People from your childhood who remember how you were

You were always flying, nightingale of sorry

Singing bird with rainbows on your wings