I gag the sight of my past
And the child I used to be
Time tears me down so fast
Then I see, I was never free

My jaw is of quartz and dirt
And in my tears, it turns to mud
I make music though it may hurt
And the flood that flows is my blood

My blood, sweat, tears and love
All thrown up on the page
Came from shapes in the clouds above
In my dreams from my earliest age
...
I dreamt of art, I dreamt of love.

Tell me dear, are you a flower in my garden?
Are you here because I watered you?
No, you grew from rainy and sunny days
With them both, I see now that time repays.

What rises at night but calls to me
That cymbal-crashing, moaning sea
Draws me through the humid air
Woe is me, again nobody is there.

And in the water that I can see
Reflects the moonlight back at me
“Murky Mirror, call me close,
I love you though I am morose.”

And then the ocean whispers so slight
Its voice is silvery, quiet at night.
“What love is this, from your heart?
Words mean nothing, they’re empty, ****.”

“But I am more!” Cried I to the sea,
“And I came here to set you free!”
And so the sea sobbed a mist,
“Your eyes are dark, love you twist.”

Then I again yelled to the nighttide,
“Why fight then, if you just subside?”
So the irate waves get loose
“My soul desires your water’s sluice!”

“If that is your wish, then so be it.”
And for the sea, my life I quit.
Like a raft, I drift away
From my dreams, I’ll opt to stray.

I do not know where I’ve come to be
In my pelagic life on the sea
But while I drift here alone
I can no longer hear that wretched moan.

Only think the unthought
Or else your brain will rot
Follow not any crowd
Over your eyes will be the shroud
Speak rarely and with wit
Your enemies will submit
Be industrious in your works
You'll evade uncertainty that lurks
Trust nobody with any secret
They will prove to be a hypocrite

Lovely trees can be firewood
But for that, they aren't especially good
The beauty will bring bitter tears
And the planter's heart beats no more.