catharine had a calling in the woods
a secret spring that she knew well
she chased a man whose knowledge was mistaken
that his only weakness was the one she held

catherine, who misused the gift of sight,
was the woman on the hill
a will o’ the wisp who held vigils through the night
who tracked him down to town against his will

chorus:
and all he could change she changed as well
anywhere he'd hide she would find
the riddle she made she held the answer
'til he cursed the name of catharine to the wind

came the day when he traveled to the city
found a room above the stairs
the sleepless nights when the shapes and signs
would haunt him
at the answer to the riddle he would stare

now riddle me this: of a tree that is no tree
riddle me that: it is high yet low
when leaves are brown in the autumn it is green
and it heals though it poisons where it grows

catharine took a job in the city
selling apples on the street
she bid her time seeking solace in winter
she knew the time would come when they wonld meet

tired of riddles she had welcomed her prey
through the hallway to her room
the paint was peeling leaving red on the rug
where all she gained remained the same to lose

catharine slowly loosened her hold
to let him breathe and he fled again
to sow the wind she had given up control
to sow the storm she had wed the light and rain

and so in time he returned to the fold
with an answer upon his lips:
a heart cannot be protected from weakness
and on christmas eve betrayed her with a kiss