Divers Joanna Newsom

The diver is my love
(And I am his, if I am not deceived)
Who takes one breath above, for every hour below the sea;
Who gave to me a jewel
Worth twice this woman's life (but would cost her less
Than laying at low tide
To see her true love phosphoresce)

And in an infinite regress:
Tell me, why is the pain of birth
Lighter borne than the pain of death?
I ain't saying that I loved you first
But I loved you best

I know we must abide
Each by the rules that bind us here:
The divers, and the sailors, and the women on the pier
But how do you choose your form?
How do you choose your name? How do you choose your life?
How do you choose the time you must exhale
And kick, and rise?

And in an infinite capsize:
Like a bull tearing down the coast
Double hulls bearing double masts —
I don’t know if you loved me most, but you loved me last