One Thing Right

To dream myself into a purple night
after a torrid, swirling golden day--
I only ever got that one thing right.

The blinds admit a crystalline white light.
I shiver in my new blue bed and stay
to dream myself into a purple night.

I wake up late and mad, and start to fight
about some stupid thing, but mean to say,
I only ever got that one thing right.

I traded gold for gold and breadth for height,
and here I need the spine I let decay
to dream myself into a purple night.

I found my paradise and bred delight
in Austin's sound, its sweet, its sweep, its play--
I only ever got that one thing right.

So now I sprawl here sickened by the blight
of beauty you call California, and I pray
to dream myself into a purple night.
I only ever got that one thing right.