Deadwood Thirst

[Verse 1]
(Her)
"That snake plant on the sill died back in March."
(Him)
The tap runs cold on my thumb, the water's harsh.
You trace the hard water stains left on the window glass,
Said I should have known something that green could never last.

[Chorus]
(Her)
"So why are you still watering it?"
(Him)
Because the dust hasn't settled on this yet.

[Verse 2]
(Him)
This whole room smells like damp soil and what you won't say.
The furnace clicks a rhythm for another empty Tuesday.
Remember you bought it at that market east of Gratiot?
You said, "This one's tough, it's the kind that forgives you a lot."

[Chorus]
(Her, voice cracking)
"Marvin, why are you still watering it?"
(Him)
Because the dust hasn't settled on any of this yet.

[Bridge]
(Beat switches to emotional, intimate house. Her voice becomes a chopped, rhythmic sample: "Why-why-why-why...")
(Him, chanted over the beat)
Let me have this one damn thing.
This little prayer in porcelain.
This defiant, useless spring.
This work my two hands can still bring.

[Outro]
(His voice, breathing hard, a whisper)
Let me have this thirst.
This one last good thirst.