#198 (of 365) "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us" Sufjan Stevens

Thinking outrageously, I write in cursive, I
Hide in my bed with the lights on the floor
Wearing three layers of coats and leg warmers, I
See my own breath on the face of the door
Oh, I am not quite sleeping
Oh, I am fast in bed
There on the wall in the bedroom creeping
I see a wasp with her wings outstretched
North of Savannah, we swim in the palisades
I come out wearing my brother's red hat
There on his shoulder, my best friend is bit seven times
He runs washing his face in his hands
Oh, how I meant to tease him
Oh, how I meant no harm
Touching his back with my hand, I kiss him
I see the wasp on the length of my arm
we were in love, we were in love, palisades, palisades, I can wait, I can wait

I can't explain the state that I'm in
The state of my heart, he was my best friend
Into the car, from the backseat
Oh, admiration in falling asleep
All of my powers, day after day
I can tell you we swaggered and swayed
Deep in the tower, the prairies below
I can tell you the telling gets old
terrible sting and terrible storm
(This state, hallelu-) I can tell you the day we were born
(Wonders bright, and) my friend is gone, he ran away
(Rivers, lake, hallelu-) I can tell you I love him each day
(Trail of Tears and) though we have sparred, wrestled and raged
(Horseshoe Lake, hallelu-) I can tell you I love him each day
(Trusting things beyond) terrible sting and terrible storms (we were in love, we were in love)
(Mistake, hallelu-) I can tell you (palisades, palisades, I can wait, I can wait)

"The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get You" - Sufjan Stevens // Illinoise (2005)