Queen Of Ithaca

Lyrics

Verse 1
They crowned me young on this rocky hill
With a woven crown of salt and dust
You left in armor
Eyes on the far edge
Saying
“Keep this kingdom
Keep your trust”

Seasons stacked like jars on a high shelf
Olive trees watched me grow old
Every night I stitched you a welcome
Every dawn I pulled out the thread I’d sewn

Chorus
I am the queen of Ithaca
I held this island like our child
I learned to sharpen quiet words
I learned to bow and still defy
You sailed through storms and strangers’ tongues
I sailed through silence
Every lie
You came home with your battle scars
I kept the hearth and kept us alive

Verse 2
They filled my hall with hungry men
Greedy hands on bronze and bread
They praised my patience
Cursed my waiting
Swore your story had long gone dead

But our boy stood tall in the doorway
With your stubborn in his jaw
We drank from rain caught in cracked pots
Shared your name like a secret law

Chorus
I am the queen of Ithaca
I held this island like our child
I turned away a hundred crowns
I turned their questions into smiles
You crossed dark seas and lion hearts
I crossed long winters
Cold and wide
You came home with a stranger’s face
I knew your shadow
Knew your stride

Bridge
Was it harder there
Or harder here?
Your steel to their spears
My spine to their jeers
You counted ships
I counted years
Both of us praying
You’d reappear

Chorus
I am the queen of Ithaca
I kept your story breathing slow
I guarded doors and distant shores
You never even had to know
You came back through the broken gate
Salt in your beard
A tired smile
Lay down your sword
Lay down your name
I’ve been your kingdom all this while