Mother as I write the sun dissolves

Blood life streaming cross my hand

And these words, these words

Hope dashed immortal hope

Hope streaking the canvas sky

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write



We joined the long caravan

Hungry dreaming going west

Just for work just to get a job

And we never got lucky

We just forged on

And the dust the endless dust

Like a plague it covered everything

Hal fell with the fever

And mother I did what I could

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write



We prayed we prayed for rain

I never wanted to see the sun again



All my dresses you made by hand

We left behind on the road

Hal died in my arms

We buried him by the river

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write

Blue poles infinitely winding, as I write, as I write