Hiss from Birthmarks by Bambara
Tracklist
| 1. | Hiss | 4:16 |
Lyrics
Can’t recall the time of year, but the cars I could hear seemed to slowly steer like they were driving on frozen roads. Couldn’t say the time of day, but the light through the shades rearranged her face into valleys and peaks of gold. Don’t remember what she wore ‘cause she stripped at the door. Said, “Our clothes look better thrown on the floor, now that we’re alone.” Never even heard her name, but the sound that remains is a mix of moans with the hiss of rain on the patio. I touched her shaky thighs, all love-bite bruised, as she sprayed her perfume. Said, “You think it’s strange that I’m kind to you?” I said, “I kinda do.”
She said, “There’s just so much cruelty in everything everywhere. When I close my eyes against it, I still feel it in the air. But when I’m in your arms, I could swear it wasn’t there.”
Never asked her where she’s from, but she spoke about love with the lilting tones of
some foreign tongue I didn’t know. The smell of artificial fruit made me think of the maids who would clean the place once we left the room. Told her, “Time to go.” She said, “I’m staying for a day or two." Then she whispered, “You brute. Oh, you drunken fool, don’t you try to move. I’ll take care of you.”
Then I snapped a photo of her smiling naked on the bed. Hand posed for the camera like a pistol to her head. Cardinals on the sheets, flying always to the West.
Dropped the picture in my suitcase and got up to leave. Then I mimicked the expression
on her face as I covered it with sheets. Dark lines from the shades put all the cardinals in their cage. Shut the door behind me, flipped the sign, and I was free.
