MARIA CONSUELA ARROYO
(Tim Henderson)

Maria Consuela Arroyo was born and was raised
On the south side of town
With eyes holding midnight,
And face like an angel come down.
In softness and beauty,
She grew like a rose without thorn.
At fifteen, she married,
At sixteen, her first child was born.

And time is a lover,
A planter in ripeness,
Who harvests your dreams.
Time is a river,
That sweeps us along in its stream.
It brings us together,
And tears us so surely apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone,
In her dry skin and bones,
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Maria Consuela Arroyo,
She bore seven more on the south side of town.
And her love for her family
Like soft rain, came whispering down.
Like flowers in the garden,
They flourished in beauty and grace,
With their eyes like dark mirrors
Reflecting the love in her face.

And time is the traitor.
Time is the villain who stalks on our stage,
The bringer of heartache,
The bringer of wrinkles and age.
It brings us together
And tears us so cruelly apart,
And there's no wrinkled crone
In her dry skin and bones
Who is not a young girl in her heart.

Maria Consuela Arroyo,
Her man died in battle, in cruel rivalries.
And her children were scattered
Like feathers that ride down the breeze.
She kneels in the darkness,
Nine candles she lights every day
And Padre Alphonso remembers their names when he prays.

But, time's the black angel,
The dark curandero who brings the long sleep.
Time is a shepherd
Who's keeping a watch on the sheep.
He brings back together
The souls that he once tore apart
And he comforts old crones
In their dry skin and bones
For he still loves the girl in their hearts.
Time is a lover,
A planter in ripeness
Who harvests your dreams.

Author: Tim Henderson.
Source: Transcribed from Jan Marra 'These Crazy Years' Flying Fish FF 482

I have loved this song for many years. I cannot remember how I came by 'curandero', or whether it is the correct word – can anyone verify this word or indicate what it should be? Also, can anyone tell me where I can find other songs by Tim Henderson?