Long ago, in the court of Cathay
Upon my strings I lightly did play
The words, too bold, their silence did keep
I longed for my love, I longed for sleep
Though disturbed, I let my sounding box sing
In the sorrowing senses of the King
A girl from the Orient
Took me in a thorny embrace
She had seen so much of what it meant
To take on the pain of our race
Hold me, she said with a tear
And I took her to my breast
I healed her shaking fear
And her heartbeat pierced my chest
We knew each other then
For what we really were
Clouds blew by in a pulsing wind
I gave my world for her
I let her go-- I don't know when
But we had mingled blood
I let her go-- that was my sin
I awakened still in love
And love, I knew, was pain
And love entailed deceiving
My clothing all was stained
With love's bloody believing

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