You were gone
And the whole year lied

It should have been summer
The streets were hot with June
Fruit carts sweated at the corner
Children shouted after noon

But I kept walking colder
Coatless in the heat
With old December in my pockets
And no blood in my feet

Every green thing leaned toward me
Every day came dressed in sun
I looked at all that living
And could not feel it come

Summer went quiet
When you went away
Birds had a song
But they sang it gray
Orchards got heavy
Fields bent low
Nothing was full
Without you there to know
Summer went quiet
Summer went quiet
Winter under everything

Autumn came loaded
Baskets bruised and sweet
Vines went drunk with plenty
Grains lay thick as sleep

But all that rich arriving
Looked borrowed, looked bereaved
Like fruit with no one claiming it
Like bread no mouth believed

All the world kept paying out
I could not take my share
The season had its hands out
But you were not there

Summer went quiet
When you went away
Birds had a song
But they sang it gray
Orchards got heavy
Fields bent low
Nothing was full
Without you there to know
Summer went quiet
Summer went quiet
Winter under everything

If they sang, it came out thinner
If they flew, they flew half-high
Leaves went pale before the weather
I knew why, I knew why

Summer went quiet
When you went away
Birds had a song
But they sang it gray
Let the trees go heavy
Let the fields bend low
Nothing is summer
If you are not there to know
Summer went quiet
Summer went quiet
Winter under everything
