a box full of groceries

rotten clothes, she's torn her knees

in the main street chill

she sleeps at night in broke-down cars

squints the dreams into her arms

as they junk you man, have your fill



well she had friends that went abroad and do not write

she says the hardest ones are those who stay behind



in the valley of the dead cars

they would end it all if they could starve

sent out their kids to wander the world

now they can rest at last



you're out scootin' by the graveyard

and you're looking for a brave eye

could've been your lover but you said you never gave

you have to be home early or you'll get smacked round the head till bedtime



now you hike the roads on your half-shod feet

you hump the devil you hump the police

criss-cross harlem playing out in sequined death



and now she lurches off as haughty as a queen

to take the waters in old [scubareen?]



in the valley of the dead cars

they would end it all if they could starve

sent out their kids to wander the world

now they can rest at last



so i took her back with me to my own true place

which was a mildewed and disintegrating cottage overlooking a disused waterfall

and we lay there in silence, fruitless silence until just before dawn

when she rolled over onto me



they come withal in their japanese cars

they know where the good meal bargains are

and they spy by the side of the road in the twilight, rain and storm



she juts her thumb in futile haste

contempt to her is sweet to taste

the nuns told her do not waste sensation



when the towns are all just smoking empty shells

she will still be here doing what she does well



in the valley of the dead cars

at the mouth of a flooded mine

i will embrace you hard

and we'll wait for the sun to shine

in the valley of the dead cars

the valley of the dead cars