Late after we've all gone to bed
I'd always find myself awake
With my ears being mistreated
Didn't mean to hear evils spill

I tried my best to go to sleep

But each night tears were shed
I heard everything slowly break
When daddy admitted he cheated
Then mama could only shrill

Yet all I wanted was sleep

Once more daddy had gone and fled
Left mama to feel the same heartache
Because history had surely repeated
As it was that night life lost it's thrill

Then I cried myself to sleep

Are the pedals on a piano
There because it once was a vehicle?

Are there long lines tonight
At the nudie fish market?

Is that a ****** dressed as your wife
On the Lord's day?

Is your depression building its own
Glorified bomb shelter?

Do you pray for what wilts
As equally as for what blossoms?

Did someone ***
In your sandbox again?

Was it you?

Did you see them take the green fields
one by one, now line by line on hills in echelon?

Still, holding ground held holy by their sons;
no longer marching to the smoke and drum.

Where bugler called the day to final rest,
now silence grows like lichen on the stones.

For those who gave their all at our behest,
our memories alone will not atone.

Do you see the fires burning at a distance,
and more hallowed ground broken day by day?

Each new stone laid a fading reminiscence;
each new boquet soon fading into gray.

What better way to honor sacrifice
than to pause and speak their names aloud.

Until the gods of war are pacified;
until our flag no longer serves as shroud.

Another night  of oarless
boats adrift in white caps
and slow rolling waves
we hold our breath
like the clouds hold the wind
trying not to breathe on the trees
and Death changes his tune
so the songs all sound the same
turning up the radio
in his black Coupe de Ville
spinning his wheels, showing off
those silver mud *****
and shiny swan on the hood
running red lights and stop signs
all around town, up to no good
circling the block one more time
looking for a slow road
crossing dog to run down
I swear, where are the cops
when you need one to stop
trouble dead in its tracks.

lest you fall too far in love with this world-
the Sun will not always be kind
and indeed will not always shine.

You are reminded of the journey-
this is no place to settle down
-someone far greater calls you home.