i cut out paper figures from the sky, from the sea
string them together like little beads
then rip them, tear them apart
like the ventricles of a breaking heart
i take them away, let them learn
then crumple them, or let them return
to thrust them at each other once again
bang, bang, together, bang, bang, the end
i shatter them, explode, bright like dying stars
watch them limp on with battle scars
then throw them to every corner of the Earth
to wander, wondering what they are worth
what could have beens
should have beens
would have beens
bang, bang, together, bang, bang, like shins
i make them talk, talk in tongues
that take up time, but waste their lungs
they speak in words, but they are bluffing
they are the voice, the voice of nothing
and still they walk, gasping for air
searching for a hand to tangle in theirs
tangle them, tangle them up
bang, bang, together, bang, bang, to dust
paper figures, paper hands
with paper skin, paper dance
and paper hearts, all alone
just piles of paper, piles of bones
to be recycled, back to the stars
to play again, play their parts
to leave once more, unpaid but well played
bang, bang, together, bang, bang, they fade
i crumple them, crease their flesh
make them wear a wrinkled dress
to show their beauty, hide their pain
hide and seek, the name of the game
i cut them loose, they drop their useless tongues
throw mortal blether to the wind, fill their winded lungs
paper, breakable, tearable, terrible
bang, bang, together, bang, bang, forever