You step off shift at quarter four
Grill grease still on your flannel worn
Mug steams between your calloused grip
Orchard rows swallow evening slip
Ceramic lantern ceramic light
Burns through branches burns through night
Snow drinks the glow each flake a star
You walk the rows you know who you are
Regulars paid and left their tips
Cherry pie and coffee sips
Now the parking lot breathes quiet steam
Your boots break crust on frozen dream
Ceramic lantern ceramic light
Burns through branches burns through night
Snow drinks the glow each flake a star
You walk the rows you know who you are
Muted trumpet in your headphones sings
Rhodes piano hums through speakers rings
Double bass walks the line you tread
Each step a note each breath a thread
No tickets called no bell to sound
Just branches etched on frozen ground
The mug stays warm against your palm
A tiny sun a steady calm
Waitress voice still calls your name
Two over easy cook the same
But here the apples sleep in white
Your lantern cuts the fading light
Ceramic lantern ceramic light
Burns through branches burns through night
Snow drinks the glow each flake a star
You walk the rows you know who you are
Dawn threatens at the treeline edge
Night shift over pledge to pledge
You sip the dregs ceramic hot
Orchard drinks the final drop
Ceramic lantern ceramic light
Burns through branches burns through night
Snow drinks the glow each flake a star
You walk the rows you know who you are
Ceramic lantern ceramic light
You are the dawn you are the night
Mug empty now but glow remains
Orchard holds the ceramic stains
