Cactus In A Coffee Can

She had the window and I had the aisle She looked twenty-five but she was shakin' like a child When we took off I looked over and clutched in her hands Was this cactus in a coffee can She was holdin' that thing like it was all that she had She smiled at me but I could tell she was sad

Somewhere over Denver I asked her her name She said, Elena, then told me she came From Santa Fe She ordered a drink and a wall came down She started talkin' and the pain poured out She told me a story I'll never forget She had me in tears when she looked at me and said

My mama's first love was crack She made her livin' lyin' on her back She gave me away on the day that I was born

She said, I spent the last ten years trackin' her down Y'know it just don't seem fair that when I finally found Her she was almost gone We had two weeks together to laugh and to cry Two weeks to say hello and goodbye

She gave me this cactus, said it's kinda like me It'll hurt you to hold it but it blooms every spring She said, I'm on my way back to New Mexico Was gonna scatter her ashes where the desert winds blow But I came up with a better plan I'm gonna keep 'em in the bottom of this coffee can

My mama was a tortured soul But I still love her even though She gave me away on the day that I was born

The plane touched down and we both got off I took her hand and said sorry for your loss She said thanks for listening, for being here I've been wantin' to talk about her for so many years Now, I'll probably never see Elena again We met as strangers and parted as friends As we waved goodbye I was sure of one thing There'll be a flower on that cactus come next Spring