Meadowlark (From ”The Baker’s Wife”) Susan Egan

[GENEVIEVE]
When I was a girl, I had a favorite story
Of the meadowlark who lived where the rivers wind
Her voice could match the angels in its glory
But she was blind
The lark was blind

An old king came and took her to his palace
Where the walls were burnished bronze and golden braid
And he fed her fruit and nuts from an ivory chalice
And he prayed

"Sing for me, my meadowlark
Sing for me of the silver morning
Set me free, my meadowlark
And I'll buy you a priceless jewel
And cloth of brocade and crewel
And I'll love you for life if you will
Sing for me"

Than one day as the lark sang by the water
The god of the sun heard her in his flight
And her singing moved him so, he came and brought her
The gift of sight
He gave her sight
And she opened her eyes to the shimmer and the splendor
Of this beautiful young god, so proud and strong
And he called to the lark in a voice both rough and tender
"Come along!"

"Fly with me, my meadowlark
Fly with me on the silver morning
Past the sea where the dolphins bark
We will dance on the coral beaches
Make a feast of the plums and peaches
Just as far as your vision reaches
Fly with me"

But the meadowlark said no
For the old king loved her so
She couldn't bear to wound his pride
So the sun god flew away
And when the king came down that day
He found his meadowlark had died
Every time I heard that part, I cried

And now I stand here, starry-eyed and stormy
Oh, just when I thought my heart was finally numb
A beautiful young man appears before me
Singing, "Come
Oh, won't you come?"