Carl Sandburg

6 January 1878 – 22 July 1967 / Illinois

Paula

NOTHING else in this song-only your face.
Nothing else here-only your drinking, night-gray eyes.

The pier runs into the lake straight as a rifle barrel.
I stand on the pier and sing how I know you mornings.
It is not your eyes, your face, I remember.
It is not your dancing, race-horse feet.
It is something else I remember you for on the pier mornings.

Your hands are sweeter than nut-brown bread when you touch me.
Your shoulder brushes my arm-a south-west wind crosses the pier.
I forget your hands and your shoulder and I say again:

Nothing else in this song-only your face.
Nothing else here-only your drinking, night-gray eyes.
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