Frost Ferns Are Gone by Noon

Lyrics

The pond has put a lid on, love
The bird bath's turned to stone
The hedge is in a coat of white
The lane is all alone
I took the bins out in my slippers
Breath came out in smoke
And all along the bonnet of the car
The frost had gently spoke

Frost ferns are gone by noon
Gone before the kettle's cooled
I'll hold the quiet while I can
Before the morning's ruled
By buses and by errands and the phone
Frost ferns are gone by noon
But I was here, and I was shown

My father taught me how to scrape
A window with a card
He'd hum a tune and make it fun
Though the hour was cold and hard
I hum it now in the same slow key
The windscreen clears in time
And I think of how he never rushed
And I am in no rush, in kind

Frost ferns are gone by noon
Gone before the kettle's cooled
I'll hold the quiet while I can
Before the morning's ruled
By buses and by errands and the phone
Frost ferns are gone by noon
But I was here, and I was shown

Some things aren't made to keep
Some things are made to see
A lace upon the glass, a breath
A sleeping apple tree
Just see, just see

The sun comes up behind the roofs
And all the lace goes thin
It turns to drops and runs away
And the day comes drifting in
I wipe my hands upon my coat
And step back to the door
The house is warm, the toast is up
And I love the world once more

Frost ferns are gone by noon
Gone before the kettle's cooled
I'll hold the quiet while I can
Before the morning's ruled
By buses and by errands and the phone
Frost ferns are gone by noon
But I was here, and I was shown

Frost ferns are gone by noon
But I was here, and I was shown