1 br br The brightly-painted horse br Had a boy's face, br And four small wheels br Under his feet, br br Plus a long string br To pull him by this way and that br Across the floor, br Should you care to. br br A string in-waiting br That slipped away br In many wiles br From each and every try. br br br br 2 br br Knock and they'll answer, br Mother told me. br br So I climbed four flights of stairs br And went in unannounced. br br And found a small wooden toy br For the taking br br In the ensuing emptiness br And the fading daylight br br That still gives me a shudder br As if I held the key to mysteries in my hand. br br br br 3 br br Where's the Lost and Found Department, br And the quiet entry, br The undeveloped film br Of the few clear moments br Of our blurred lives? br br Where's the drop of blood br And the teeny nail br That pricked my finger br As I bent down to touch the toy br br And caught its eye? br br br br 4 br br Evening light, br br Make me a Sunday br Go-to meeting shadow br For my toy. br br My dearest memories are br Steep stair-wells br In dusty buildings br On dead-end streets, br br Where I talk to the walls br And closed doors br As if they understood me. br br br br 5 br br The wooden toy sitting pretty. br br No, quieter than that. br br Like the sound of eyebrows br Raised by a villain br In a silent movie. br br Psst, someone said behind my back.