I saw the first
While I was full
I emptied myself
To fill him up
I saw the second
While I was empty
I emptied him
To fill myself up

Jade smoke drifting through
a heartbeat's ash descends upon the temple
and incense drowns out their murmurings

the cardinal's shadow nailed to the cross
now only a mocking bird's song can be heard
beneath the embossed covert

worshipers' nooses of jewels hang heavy and low
sermons spill downwards like thick honey
drops of golden truth clog up eager ears

black lace shifts with the breeze from the window
and the birds’ song passes around the listeners
full of clandestine truths, it’s time to convert

emeralds, rubies, diamonds, all covered in golden jade
and in another beat are surrendered
to the temptress

no i can’t change you or her
God’s wrath is disillusioning you
from hearing yourself or me
or all death’s friends

you think you can fix her
a thousand times like each plate
she’s thrown at you and each fist
she’s swung at you

and i’m telling you God won’t remember
the woman that she used to be
and the counselors won’t help you or her
but you’re a fixer man

can’t fix your back from that one time
she hit it with your old baseball bat
but you’ll fix her one day, right?

when I die

turn my body into ashes

and

spread it over the ocean

so I can go home

after a lifetime of feeling

homesick