Stillness in the Pines

[Soft Felt Piano Intro] Count ten steps into the narrow trail Pine shadows stretch high, shielding human sound [Verse 1] A slant of sun through the peeling grey bark Lands as bright coins at our feet A spider strings its web from branch to branch Unaware a visitor sits here in silence [Pre-Chorus] No need for sutras, no need for incense smoke Just hear the slow rise of the sap's rhythm [Chorus] stillness under the pines Sit so still the self recedes far away stillness under the pines Only breath remains and the sound of leaves [Verse 2] A turtledove calls two or three notes Then stops, the forest calm as paper again Wandering thoughts gathered up by the pines Turned to humus to feed the roots below [Chorus] stillness under the pines Sit so still the self recedes far away stillness under the pines Only breath remains and the sound of leaves [Bridge] Sometimes we run searching for a quiet place Yet forget that quiet lives right in the breath Beneath these pine boughs there's no right or wrong [Chorus] stillness under the pines Sit so still the self recedes far away stillness under the pines Only breath remains and the sound of leaves [Outro] Standing up, needle-leaves cling to the shoulder The forest sees us off with a cool mist [Fade Out] [End]