To a Teacher

I met a woman long ago
Her hair, the black that black can go
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Soft she answered, no

I met a girl across the sea
Her hair, the gold that gold could be
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Yes, but not for thee

I met a man who lost his mind
In some lost place I had to find
Follow me, the wise man said
But he walked behind

I walked into a hospital
Where none was sick and none was well
When at night the nurses left
I could not walk at all

Morning came and then came noon
Dinner time a scalpel blade
Lay beside my silver spoon

Some girls wander by mistake
Into the mess that scalpels make
Are you the teachers of my heart
We teach old hearts to break

One morning, I woke up alone
The hospital and the nurses gone
Have I carved enough, my Lord?
Child, you are a bone

I ate and ate and ate
No, I did not miss a plate, well
How much do these suppers cost?
We'll take it out in hate

I spent my hatred every place
On every work, on every face
Someone gave me wishes
And I wished for an embrace

Several girls embraced me, then
I was embraced by men
Is my passion perfect?
No, do it once again

I was handsome, I was strong
I knew the words of every song
Did my singing please you?
No, the words you sang were wrong

Who is it whom I address
Who takes down what I confess?
Are you the teachers of my heart?
We teach old hearts to rest

Oh, teachers are my lessons done?
I cannot do another one
They laughed and laughed and said
Well, child
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?
Are your lessons done?