empty, shaken guarantees
smudged glass, intact, unclean-
eyes forever frosted
ne’er blind but unable to see

sustain, behind the mountains
where bravery comes absurd-
for all that you’ve been running to
once far, will now be heard

and in that tacit inquiry
the answers that lie still-
for all in life there is to find
is what we never will

fearful of the cover, as we lift
and shake our heads-
impart what has been always known
and then forget again

inhale through the heaviness,
glory lies below the crush
rogue and stagnant fires-
does not a moment flush

bruises filled with liquor,
behind which fragments take
man, the soldiers plenty
march on by cherry lake

once, once more and then again
a juncture past and proud
speckled now with claret-
slow the fleet, march on ground

shine down on the many
for sacrifice, but few
keep on for the forward
or find it may be you

persist, the moon is ready
it whispers to the waves-
prepare, though not tremble
be one, be true, be brave

release, in line, the butterflies
through pastures braised and blue
return, now find compromise
until praise be unto you

with morning comes the sorrows
for sparrows mourning, fly
pray tell, divulge the under way
come good just in time

hands at work are empty
empty hands are true
trickle down the drainpipe
deflect, always bid due

then follows is the innocence
who’s speckled colours mind-
wheeled roads become the many
when the many fall behind

tired eyes won’t see tomorrow
for they close at once, tonight-
when rays peek through the curtains
in empty, desolate delight

on and on the motorways-
bypass what once stood still
remain forever moving
keep pace, the water will

and in the bleak mid-morning
decline what should be lost-
part the shadows, forfeit
for nothings worth the cost

when the host calls for you
clutch at passable effect-
reach for pen and paper
write, whatever you have left

then stand and move, readily
for he knows what you’ve done-
you cannot hide behind your eyes
your eyes, now blind, are none

on her own, her choir sings
half tormented truths
oak tree stood, magnificent
though rotten are her roots

reflections show true promise
in diffidence and she-
though doomed are her endeavours,
does grow great vanity

she sings before the steeple
and kneels in each pew
as the bell tolls midnight
her eyes lock on to you

before the scarlet ending
we’re all destined to find
she’ll ask to play just one more song
become, in her presence, blind

crave what came before
connection lingers, softly
blue-white light breaks the fall
circuits real through bone

eyes down, pray silently
let music flood your eardrums
ignore, neglect the traveler
who sits as so do you

an actor paid in penance
empty lines in his script
does force the sand to falter
the waves as punishment

decree the girl but broken
stretched thin and vacant eyes
pray, call far into the empty
hope your call is not declined

find what’s been sent for you
a signal, weak and true
for impurity in the water
does too but impurify you