Lantern Undertow

Verse

Steam curls off a chipped white cup

Rain traces the window up

Napkin sketch of a street I knew

Ink starts running when it's through

Your chair's empty, still pulled out

Sugar packet, folded doubt

Clock above the counter waits

I stop checking what it says

Pre-Chorus

Maybe I don't need the reason

Maybe I just need the quiet

Watching seasons turn to seasons

Learning how to stop and try it

Chorus

Let the lantern drift downstream

Let it fade to amber gleam

I'm not chasing what it means

I'm just floating with the seam

Lantern undertow, carry me slow

Wherever the current wants to go

Verse

Barista hums a tune off-key

Someone's laughter, not for me

Old jacket hanging by the door

I don't reach for it anymore

Streetlight flickers, steady, slow

Painting circles on the snow

I used to hold on tighter here

Now I just let the water clear

Pre-Chorus

Maybe I don't need the reason

Maybe I just need the quiet

Watching seasons turn to seasons

Learning how to stop and try it

Chorus

Let the lantern drift downstream

Let it fade to amber gleam

I'm not chasing what it means

I'm just floating with the seam

Lantern undertow, carry me slow

Wherever the current wants to go

Bridge

There's a version of me holding tight

Standing frozen in the porch light

But I waved him off around the bend

Told him this is not the end

Just a river finding lower ground

Just the quiet taking back its sound

Chorus

Let the lantern drift downstream

Let it fade to amber gleam

I'm not chasing what it means

I'm just floating with the seam

Lantern undertow, carry me slow

Wherever the current wants to go