the sheep lady from algiers
By Patti Smith
nodding tho' the lamps lit low
nodding for passers underground
to and fro she's darning and
the yarn is weeping red and pale
marking the train stops from algiers
sleeping tho' the eyes are pale
hums in rhythum w/a bonnet on
lullaby a broken song
the sifting-cloth is bleeding red
weeping yarn from algiers
lullaby tho' baby's gone
the cradle rocks a barren song
she's rocking w/her ribbons on
she's rocking yarn and needles oh
it's long coming from algiers
Copyright Credit: Patti Smith, "the sheep lady from algiers" from Early Work 1970-1979. Copyright © 1994 by Patti Smith. Used by permission of the author and W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Source: Early Work 1970-1979 (W. W. Norton and Company Inc., 1994)