The Night of Santiago

She said she was a maiden
That wasn't what I heard
For the sake of conversation
I took her at her word

The lights went out behind us
The fireflies undressed
The broken sidewalk ended
I touched her sleeping breasts

They opened to me urgently
Like lilies from the dead
Behind a fine embroidery
Her nipples rose like bread

Then I took off my necktie
And she took off her dress
My belt and pistol set aside
We tore away the rest

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do

Her thighs, they slipped away from me
Like schools of startled fish
Though I've forgotten half my life
I still remember this

Now, as a man, I won't repeat
The things she said aloud
Except for this, my lips are sealed forever
And for now

And soon, there's sand in every kiss
And soon, the dawn is ready
And soon, the night surrenders
To a daffodil machete

I gave her something pretty
And I waited till she laughed
I wasn't born a gypsy
To make a woman sad

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do

I didn't fall in love, of course
It's never up to you
But she was walking back and forth
And I was passing through

When I took her to the river
In her virginal apparel
When I took her to the river
On that night of Santiago

And yes she lied about it all
Her children and her husband
You were born to judge the world
Forgive me but I wasn't

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do

The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I her to the river
As any man would do