And the plains stretch out ahead And a swirl of sand that forces eyes to close One day you'll turn your head and see him He was born on the second you were born Coalescing out of dirt A stalking bird hatched from a small brown egg Eyes, blinking in the sun And when you crawl, he crawls slightly faster Spindle legs scratch out crude pictograms on the dry soil A slow lurch, step in step Harryhausing frame by frame A fraction closer every day Never even knowing why A stalking bird who has your name A stalking bird who has your name On two feet--- Fitful burst of manic speed Towards settees and TVs Godlike parents call you on
And when you grow and you find Some pretty girl as scared as you And feel that life has just begun He just keeps surging, like a tide towards you A spun eye-stalk Strait is the gate, he steps inside A fraction closer every day Never even knowing why A stalking bird who has your name A stalking bird who has your name To a prime, and faster than you'll ever be He's faster than he'll ever be Get to know him, to hear of him, some will rush to meet him Takes them all under black wings Years run low / spindle legs slow He'll slow too, / slower than you At last you turn / and give your hand As to a friend / you always knew