LYRIC FOR SALE

By Ph. Ness

Hummingbird in the Storm



Intro
Hummingbird in the storm,
holding to the wire.
I’m humming your name
instead of saying stay.

Verse 1
Rain against the fire escape.
Your coat across the chair.
You stand beside it
already dressed to leave.
I keep my keys
inside my pocket.
Keep three little notes
behind my teeth.
You look at me.
I hum.

Chorus
Hummingbird in the storm —
holding on, holding on.
I’m humming your name
low beneath the thunder.
Three notes
where “stay” should be.
I could say it.
I don’t.
I hum your name
instead of stay.

Verse 2
Toast burns in the kitchen.
Somebody next door
holds a gospel note
through the wall.
You lean against me
for one slow beat.
Your forehead near my chin.
I feel your breath.
Then you pull away
and tie your shoes.
My mouth opens.
Nothing but the hum.

Chorus
Hummingbird in the storm —
holding on, holding on.
I’m humming your name
thin beneath the thunder.
One broken note
where “stay” should be.
I could say it.
I don’t.
I hum your name
instead of stay.

Bridge
You turn the bathroom lock.
Water starts.
I stand at the sink
with both hands flat.
Stay.
The word rises.
Stops.
I swallow it.
The water shuts off.
The door opens.
You pass me close enough
for your sleeve
to touch my arm.
I still don’t say it.
Then the front door closes.

Final Chorus
No hummingbird in the storm.
No humming now.
Your coat is gone.
Your footsteps gone.
And the word I kept
behind my teeth
finally comes loose.
Stay.
Stay.
I say it once.
Then again.
Too late.
No name instead of stay.
Just stay
with nobody there.

Outro
I stand in the kitchen.
Rain coming down.
My mouth still open.
For the first time,
I say exactly what I mean.
You’re already gone.