Act Of Contrition

The air was all dust, a night so untamed
The ground opened up
And swallowed all of the rain

And it swallowed you too, into distance unknown
As they sat down for dinner, they waited for you to get home
Yeah, they set a place for you

So don't believe everything that you read in that diary of yours
And this nervousness, it isn't all your fault
It's just these shaking hands won't do what I want them to

And I've tried to guess what it is you thought about
That act of contrition that rolled off our tongues as you wept
What are you crying for?

Just dust my heart and you will find there are no fingers printed there
Just the untouched place that lies
Inside of every lonely boy tonight

And all this open air has caused me to choke
On your new-found hope for me