#queer love songs
in this city by the river’s bend the fires have died down
now only winkie’s ghost is left to run through all the town
to tap the shattered casements, cry at the unhasped locks
there’s no asking what the hour is; we’ve unwound all the clocks
the last flames were still flickering in the broken windowpanes
as I kissed you in an archway whilst the ashes fell like rain
now the embers glow like lanterns, the ladybirds have flown
we’ll stroll the cobblestones arm-in-arm and call the palace home
I am not the unicorn, won’t fight you for the crown
we’ll twine our hands and cross the falling bridge before it drowns
beneath a sky of lavender blue we’ll lie upon the green
with all the city lost and gone, we’ll rule together as queens
the church bells of st clement’s now have mute and rusted tongues
the wind still carries echoes of the changes they have rung
we’ll tread on eggshell fragments of the king and soldiers’ fall
as we collect green apples from the ruins of st paul’s
the gardens have run riot, pretty maids escape their rows
the topiary’s grown astray, the rambling rose is blown
we’ll picnic in the long grass and breathe the summer air
I’ll gather a knot of flowering may to weave into your hair
I am not the unicorn, won’t fight you for the crown
we’ll twine our hands and cross the falling bridge before it drowns
beneath a sky of lavender blue we’ll lie upon the green
with all the city lost and gone, we’ll rule together as queens
in the abbey we will pledge our troth, to have and then to hold
a nutmeg of polished silver for a pear of burnished gold
you’ll carry a posy of borage, I’ll wear your rope of pearls
we’ll have rings on our fingers and flaunt them before the world
in the tower we’ll play jacks with tarnished knucklebones
the chambers stand in silence, for the ravens have all flown
we’ll eat bread dipped in honey, I’ll stroke your weary head
and light a candle on the sill as we put ourselves to bed
I am not the unicorn, won’t fight you for the crown
we’ll twine our hands and cross the falling bridge before it drowns
beneath a sky of lavender blue we’ll lie upon the green
with all the city lost and gone, we’ll rule together as queens
