The winter eats into me It snows in my heart I always bear my heart Naked outside of me Like a tingling bell But my heart is not Of iron and steel Thus I easily break it Thorns, nails, and pales Sticks in the blood (covering my heart) Will I be taken from The shadow of far night? I'm hearing the sound of Death breathing in my ears A silence like Under the wings Of a dead bird A silence like The quietude Of open graves I'm hearing the songs of The birds no more Nor the wind, nor the whistling of My own blood, in my ears