The Treasure Song

She never knew her mother
But her mother left her a dark wooden chest
Full of every kind of treasure, full of round warm stones
And jewels to light up her face
Every day she took them out and touched them to her skin
Every day she knew what it was to feel like a queen
And the chest was her secret but the day came
When she wanted to share her joy
With the chimney sweep who showed her every feather
That down the chimney came
So she took it out and her face was gleaming
But he grabbed it from her hands
And shook it out across the carpet
Marked it all with sooty hands
And when he left she wept and wept
Remember, the treasure sang
Your mother who understands
I never knew her, the daughter sang
I did not see her
She never held my hand
So stop treasure singing to me
So the treasure laid hidden for years and years then
With cobwebs grown over like skin
Until one day a nobleman knocked on her door
For some dinner
And rest from his sins
So she let him in and found her smile again
She served him bread and wine
And when he left he asked her to come with him
So she gathered up all her things fine
And she almost left without her treasure chest
When he saw it his eyes were wide
With wonder and greed and tears
It touched her heart and she remembered the girl
Who had loved it for all of those years
And he took it in and he wanted it next to him always
Though he sent her away
He lived as though it belonged to him and drank from its radiance
While she grew weaker each day
Until she didn't know how to go on
Remember, the treasure sang your mother who guides your hand
I never knew her, the daughter sang
I cannot meet her
She's nowhere to be found
So stop treasure singing to me
She left the nobleman one night
She crept out from his house
With her treasure chest
For she knew its power now
And all that she wanted she vowed
That she would have
So she took it out onto the streets
And she shared its beauty with all
And there were many who loved her
And many who admired her
But the treasure grew worn and old
And she was always alone at the end of it all
Remember, the treasure sang
Your mother
She lies beneath the land
I never knew her, the daughter sang,
But can imagine her loving hands
So sing treasure sing to me
And as the girl imagined her mothers love for her
The grass grew under her feet
And the treasure was hers again
She loved it with innocence
Though it was scratched and weak
And she fell in love with a wise blind man
And spoke of her treasure at will
With her permission he laid his hands on it
Until his eyes were healed and the secret at last
Was theirs to share
Remember the treasure sang
Your mother she will guide your hand
I always knew her the daughter sang,
She is the ground upon which I stand
So sing treasure sing to me