(to Fehrion, wherever you are)

There was a time when I was powerless and you

Or anyone could have made me do anything.

But that was quite some time ago, I'm sure, and I

Assure you that I will not hesitate correcting

You now on all the things you think you know, like why

I'll push the plow alone, I'll take blood from a stone

I'll do whatever it is that's required of me

I'll pity you when you're the stone beneath the tree.

~~

The places with the dirty clothes and dirty rent

I'll go to places where the money's getting spent

I'll sneak into the building in a fire hose

I'll point it at the place I'm sure the flames arose,

So I can spot you in the crowd where you have hid

In conversations with the mathemeticians' wives

Keep up appearances dressed like a country gent

Complacently you wait, but I will not relent.

~~

There's something to be done in this, I know you know,

Before the two of us come to it blow by blow

If you would dance the dance of Jesus, I would too,

And I'd remind you all night 'til the old cock crew

It's up to you regardless if you know what you

Should do to make the ancient trains all run on time

Delivering your thoughts to you one at a time

All saved, pristine for you, not yet exposed to rhyme.

~~

Let ye be unconcerned, the sun won't rise for hours

It has not even set yet here, so think not of it

While heav'nly bodies stare you down as if you are

The only one that stands full dressed upon the beach

The only one who dares to stand and count the nubs

Shown on Orion's belt, the old one that he wears,

The one he should throw out because it's so far worn

The one you wish you owned, that knows the day you're born.

~~

There was a time when late night stars would call my name

And I would hear their words fall gently out of frame.

There was a time when I was powerless and you

Knew nothing of the recipe that they would do.

There was a time when I would work the plough beside

The stone beneath the tree while you slept by the tide.

There was a time when you would make me pause but then

Would gently guide my hand to find the plough again.

~~

The time that's now, the time we're in, is just as fine

For us to be deceived or to decide that we

Will be the ones to sit down at the oars and break

The chains that held us when we were the rowers there

As if the shackles could have meant a lick to you,

As if the oars had not already broke in two

As if the oarsmen's seats were not so rotten now,

As if your choice could be ashore or on this scow.

~~

The boat we're on is powered by the wind this time

And Wind tears at the sail with mercy set aside;

Wind blows as if it thinks it is its turn to win

But Wind just doesn't know the matters that have been

The endless frantic fools of nature do persist.

In arrogance, the winds and fires just can't resist

The earth is bleeding out from where we were oppressed

The earth is begging for its children to be blessed.