Touched by the hand of a Vicar
Can I be silent if boys are made men beneath the altar
I must beg for you to hear more for the sake of innocence
As bells toll on the seventh day, and boys warm pews
I worry that another light is shortly extinguished
All glinting eyes are pure, vicar please keep them thus
If they blush it means they still tremble at the sound
of their own voice. They're children. To them,
everything is a novelty, never interfere with innocence
Open up your eyes women, attend this duty
with obsequious care. No other boy should henceforth,
know any evil and pain in the hands of a vicar
A bout of hard words
Should we mourn our own mistakes
our speedy doom hovers over us everyday
all other nations are seeking answers
no one here should be abrogated
let's bear then this fair share of guilt together
our forefathers beyond the graves must know
that when Great America was handed to us
we laid it down on parlous grounds
and all years long, we watched it perish
and from our foes across seas and distances
came quenchless laughter, and they sure
made clear that more sorrow was to come our way
how can you then take no notice?
of displeasure that has overturned our kindness
wiping out our sense of individuality and prosperity
get hold of newspapers, the agony is multitudinous
speak to each man in your county, you will find
his heart full of anxiety and uncertainty
look at the sheriff, how he dreads doing his rounds
for a few, not as tender as he is, spilled the blood
now the streets groan with life-preserving slogans
look at the airports, immigrants are crying
the world around us is discombobulated
yet we sink in the comforts of our play stations
look at women, they still fight for pay
for care, and for a say on womanly matters
look at coal miners losing healthcare promised
should we then weep and sink into the abyss
should we rise, carry the torch that Washington,
Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, and others, ignited
The buildings cast shadows
Unnatural 90 degree angles
That's why you can't believe me
This city has a heart
I can never leave her
I long for a blessing with you
I walk out on the edges
Of those shadows
A tightrope on the streets
I've learned all evil and misery
There
And sunshine in its warmth
That's why you can never leave me
Hold my hands
Don't look up
Don't let my eyes deceive you
Don't trip on the recall
Of my words
And don't blame the city
She's never loved anyone
The blind led the willing
Take this heartbreak
From my tongue
Take all the regretful things
My hands have done
Take the thousand empty nights
From my stare
And every step I stumbled
That took me there
Take my words
And the music I've sung aloud
Take the ash from my fingers
The sweat from my brow
Take the moonlight when you leave
And remember me in its beam
So I can re stumble every step
That's led you to me
Turn the tides and tables
Tear down the temple veil
The priests have plundered the covenant
In three piece suits
And turned brother against brother
As they vie for the womb
Each lie is orchestrated
Carefully
Under our feet
To trip the wires of snares
Out on Main Street
What is hope discarded?
Liberty disbanded
Awakening from a sweet dream
Just before it's over
What are tired hands hanging?
Still curled in the shape of the tool
From toiling
A distraction?
What is the last laugh
People talk about?
Believing they're lined at the gate
Like a fine thoroughbred
Only to find they're cattle
Mislead
Is that what they mean when they say it's what's on the inside that counts?
Who's laughing now
As they hollow us out?
A smile and losing it
Called me home for a war
There'll be blood again
The lamb of man
And the white wings of peace
They'll be cut again
This restless record
The needle's too deep
It'll never be fun again
All the fireworks
The carpet's burnt
And it's all gone to my head again
Fading echoes
A chorus too numb to keep
In time
It's our time
If the timing's right
Then the dead
The dead can sing