Woman Of Custom

Richard Wright

Woman of custom just severed ties

What had never changed had always died so

Suddenly she's opened eyes that

Fill with tears and come alive

Her stifled love sleeping forever was

Unaroused like changeless weather

And little chance that she was ever

Going to smash the precious measure



She never lived with pain, fear or anger

Windowless and tame like a precious stone langoured

A heart enchained, willing to surrender

But now if storms would only blow

She could really feel the roll.



Those years of sleep, all waking dreams

Unpeopled places on painted screens

And diffused in subdued streams

Her life was cost, traditional schemes.



She never lived with pain, fear or anger

Windowless and tame like a precious stone langoured

A heart enchained, willing to surrender

But now if storms would only blow

Then she could really feel the roll

She could really feel the roll.



«A hunger that lasts can have no pain»

It's just these words that don't explain.

Eaten alive and spat out again

They jam in the memory like ancient remains.



Woman of custom just severed ties

What had never changed had always died so

Suddenly she's opened eyes that

Fill with tears and come alive.