The Desktop of the World

Story — The Desktop of the World

Verse 1
I saw a little folder
On the desktop of the day
I clicked it with my wanting
And dragged my life that way

The trees were green instructions
The sky was painted blue
The body had a username
And the password sounded true

Chorus
But the world is not a window
It’s a dashboard made of light
A map for moving safely
Through the weather and the night

And the one I thought was driving
With its hands upon the wheel
Was another little icon
In the field of what is real

Verse 2
There was a mug on the table
There was warmth against my hand
There was thought that called it “mine”
And said, “Now I understand”

There was fear behind the forehead
There was tightness in the chest
There was a voice that whispered softly
“Don’t you delete me yet”

Chorus
But the world is not a window
It’s a dashboard made of light
A map for moving safely
Through the weather and the night

And the one I thought was driving
With its hands upon the wheel
Was another little icon
In the field of what is real

Bridge
No need to break the screen
No need to curse the game
No need to lose the body
No need to lose the name

Let the folder be a folder
Let the moonlight fill the room
Let the self-icon keep working
Without calling it the truth

Verse 3
Now the kettle’s softly singing
And the old dog’s breathing slow
The world still wears its colours
Like a coat I seem to know

But something here is lighter
Though nothing disappeared
Just the old familiar desktop
No longer held so dear

Final Chorus
For the world is not a window
It’s a dashboard made of light
A map for moving gently
Through the ordinary night

And the one I thought was driving
With its hands upon the wheel
Was a useful little icon
In the field of what is real

Outro
So pour the tea, my darling
Let the morning be unfurled
The icon may be thirsty
On the desktop of the world.