Three Knocks

(hummmmm) The widow said he knocked three times the night he died

once for sorry, twice for goodbye,

third time, she don't know why

Bone sat down across from her

and closed her eyes

said "give me a minute,

he's already trying"

He knocked three times 'cause three's the number she'd know

once to say he's sorry

that he had to go twice to say he loved her more

than he ever let show

the third one's a secret he's still not

ready

to blow

I asked him through her

what the third knock meant

Bone's voice cracked — her own voice,

not his

— and she said "Some cases close themselves if you don't push

and pry"

I turned off the tape.

Some secrets ain't mine

to carry either.