Garden

It takes a couple seconds for her to shake off the medicine A couple seconds more to know it's me It takes a couple minutes, but then we're right back in it Right where we left off the other week Her body is a frame with the skin all stretched and stained And a faded crown of grey caught in her hair Her place is on a throne, not in this God-forsaken home Where they dope her up to keep her pushing air But she says, "I'm not scared to die, I'll look my maker in the eye And in his gaze, I hope that I find peace But now that the ship comes in, I've just one prayer left on my lips Lord, take me kindly if you please" It takes a couple hours before she's tired of your flowers Reminds her of the garden she can't grow For it's freedom she's missing - just to make her own decisions Keep living how she's living 'til she goes Her body is a frame with the skin all stretched and stained And she wears that crown of grey just like a queen Her place is on a throne, not in this God-forsaken home Where the medicine's becoming the disease But she says, "I'm not scared to die, I'm scared that I might lose my mind And end up like the woman down the hall How she screamed when her time had come; God knows she's not the only one So Lord, take me kindly when you call" And I am standing in your garden, and it is easy to forget That there is bound to be a harvest, and the season will end But she says, "Don't be scared to die; I'll tell you now, you'll lose the fight Just let it be a lamp unto your feet For the time that you have today, and when you're old you'll learn to pray 'Lord, take me kindly if you please'" Lord, take her kindly for me