I polish glass with salt worn rag
Salt worn rag and steady hand
The alley breathes in frozen fog
Frozen fog on iron band
Brass eye sees what hearts conceal
Hearts conceal behind shutters
Winter wind turns cold the steel
Cold the steel but never mutters
You watch from window framed in lead
Framed in lace and candle glow
My lens catches what you said
What you spoke to falling snow
Brass eye sees what hearts conceal
Hearts conceal behind shutters
Winter wind turns cold the steel
Cold the steel but never mutters
Keeper knows the language of light
Language of light and long dark
I read the alley every night
Every night I trace your mark
Brass eye sees what hearts conceal
Hearts conceal behind shutters
Winter wind turns cold the steel
Cold the steel but never mutters
No beam sweeps this narrow street
No foghorn calls the tide
Just brass and glass and quiet feet
Quiet feet with nowhere to hide
You lift a cup to frozen panes
Frozen panes reflect the glow
My brass eye holds what remains
Remains when winter winds blow
Brass eye sees what hearts conceal
Hearts conceal behind shutters
Winter wind turns cold the steel
Cold the steel but never mutters
Brass eye keeps what time can't steal
Time can't steal from frozen shutters
Lens caps close on cobblestone
Dawn breaks the watch alone