He threads the gate with frozen fingers
Carbon arcs bite through winter stingers
Silver beam cuts the vaulted dark
Ancient reels leave their fatal mark
Motor coughs but the show goes on
Snow drifts high past the shattered dawn
Prayer wheels freeze in the icy wind
No fare collected no journey's end
This is the last reel turning slow
Temple stones wear a crown of snow
Projector heart beats rust and light
One final show before the night
Yak butter lamps gutter low and dim
Film strip cracks on the take-up rim
Sprocket teeth chew the brittle tape
Frozen frames fall on the altar shape
Motor coughs but the show goes on
Snow drifts high past the shattered dawn
Prayer wheels freeze in the icy wind
No fare collected no journey's end
This is the last reel turning slow
Temple stones wear a crown of snow
Projector heart beats rust and light
One final show before the night
Lens frost blooms like a fern on glass
Each frame holds a faded mass
Soundtrack hiss eats the actor's voice
Stone altar makes a poor man's choice
He knows the road don't care for fame
The meter drops the same in rain
No passenger waits at the door
Just snow and stone for evermore
This is the last reel turning slow
Temple stones wear a crown of snow
Projector heart beats rust and light
One final show before the night
Reel ends flop on the empty core
Motor sighs like a wounded boar
He sweeps the gate with a calloused thumb
Snow seals the temple kingdom come
This is the last reel turning slow
Temple stones wear a crown of snow
Projector heart beats rust and light
One final show before the night
Snow falls on the stone roof tonight
Last frame freezes holding light
