for anne sexton
 
looking down on empty streets, all she can see
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real
 
all of the buildings, all of the cars
were once just a dream
in somebody's head
 
she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
she pictures a soul
with no leak at the seam
 
lets take the boat out
wait until darkness
let's take the boat out
wait until darkness comes
 
nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day
 
there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone
 
dreaming of mercy st.
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms
 
pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word
 
confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest;he's the doctor
he can handle the shocks
 
dreaming of the tenderness, tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary's lips
 
dreaming of mercy st.
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms
 
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
 
Anne, with her father is out in the boat
riding the water
riding the waves on the sea