For Tess Gallagher | Ray Carver, 1980s
For Tess
Suppose I say summer,
write the word “hummingbird”,
put it in an envelope,
take it down the hill
to the box. When you open
my letter you will recall
those days and how much,
just how much i love you
Raymond Carver, 1938-1988
* written to his partner Tess Gallagher,
when he knew he was dying
Les Paul & Mary Ford / Hummingbird / 1955
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zumOIWrGgSI
Hummingbird, hummingbird should be your name
Too restless to settle, too wild to tame
Hummingbird, hummingbird should be your name
Hummingbird, hummingbird winging along
No tender young blossom can hold you for long
You'd hug me and kiss me like others I've known
You'd promise to love me and call me your own
Then all of my dreams would be shattered apart
By the hum hum of your hummingbird heart
Hummingbird, hummingbird, feathered so fine
If I clipped your wings it would not make you mine
Hummingbird, hummingbird, feathered so fine
Hummingbird, hummingbird, fly right on by
Some folks like to gamble, but darling not I
I'd rather be lonely, I'd rather be blue
Yes, I'd rather spend my whole life without you
Then feather a nest to be shattered apart
By the hum hum of your hummingbird heart
.