The Poetry of Rock n' Roll: "Blood Bank"

To observe National Poetry Month, once a week I will be featuring lyrics of rock n' roll or pop songs that also double as exquisite poetry (previously here).

This week we look at a touching song by Bon Iver called "Blood Bank." The idea that we all look alike when we are just a bag of blood is, when pondered, very poignant and extremely moving. The lyrics allude to the idea of the primary things of life, things at the core, and that love or connection with others is one of those things.

"Blood Bank"
by Bon Iver

Well, I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags

You said, see look that's yours
Stacked on top with your brother's
See how they resemble one another
Even in their plastic little covers

And I said I know it well
That secret that you know but you don't know how to tell
It fucks with your honor and it teases your head
But you know that it's good, girl
'Cause its running you with red

Then the snow started falling
We were stuck out in your car
You were rubbing both my hands
Chewing on a candy bar

You said, ain't this just like the present
To be showing up like this?
As a moon waned to crescent
We started to kiss

And I said I know it well
That secret that we know that we don't know how to tell
I'm in love with your honor, I'm in love with your cheeks
What's that noise up the stairs, babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?

And I know it well, I know it well...

http://boniver.org/