Richard Wright - Woman of custom

Woman of custom just severed ties What had never changed had always died so Suddenly she’s opened eyes that Fill with tears and come alive Her stifled love sleeping forever was Unaroused like changeless weather And little chance that she was ever Going to smash the precious measure She never lived with pain, fear or anger Windowless and tame like a precious stone langoured A heart enchained, willing to surrender But now if storms would only blow She could really feel the roll. Those years of sleep, all waking dreams Unpeopled places on painted screens And diffused in subdued streams Her life was cost, traditional schemes. She never lived with pain, fear or anger Windowless and tame like a precious stone langoured A heart enchained, willing to surrender But now if storms would only blow Then she could really feel the roll She could really feel the roll. It’s just these words that don’t explain. Eaten alive and spat out again They jam in the memory like ancient remains. Woman of custom just severed ties What had never changed had always died so Suddenly she’s opened eyes that Fill with tears and come alive.