WITH NATURE’S BREATH DRAPED OVER ME M B u c hanan
At the end of it, may the gates swing wide for you. May your shackles rust behind you.
I AT THE END OF IT REST ALL YOUR WORRIES LOW THOSE THAT KEEP YOU SHADOWED THOSE THAT STUNT YOUR FLOW THOSE THAT SHACKLE FEARS FIRM WHOSE IRON RINGS LOUD HERE SEVER ALL THESE CHAINS AND SOAR SOAR ON MY DEAR
II TEAR AT ALL TRADITION AND ITS S WO O P I N G JAWS THE WEIGHT CIRCLING AND LINGERING ABOVE MORE KIND, LESS HARM MORE LOVE, LESS HARM STEM OUT TO SHADOW ALL PREY IN THE FIELDS TOWING THEIR BLOODLUST LONG ASTRAY THEIR CURSES WILL DEC AY THE THIRST ON TONGUES WILL NEVER G O AWAY T H E R E ’ S A H E AV Y P U L S E H E R E I N O U R FEINT HEARTS AS WE’RE HUNG FROM OUR ANKLES AND DRAGGED THROUGH THE DUST HEAR NOW FEAR AND DOUBT HERE AND NOW YOUR LUCK RUNS OUT
III ALL HOPE NOW C ASED AND LOW A L L L OV E PA S S E D T O A N D F RO ALL LIGHT CHAINED AND TOWED A L L F E A R S M A K I N G T H E I R WAY H O M E T OW E D , PA S S E D , C A S E D A N D L OW T H E Y H AV E H O P E , L OV E A N D L I G H T O F THEIR OWN
IV THERE IS A BREATH IN OUR NAKED ATTEMPTS OUR LONG REACH UNABASHED THERE IS A HAMMER HURLED AT THE SEAMS AND EVERY LONE THREAD IN BETWEEN AT THE SEAMS OF VIOLENCE THAT TUGS AT C ALM SEAS THE SEAMS OF THIEVES THAT POCKET OUR DREAMS T H E R E I S A PAT H T H RO U G H ENDLESS DAYS THAT CREMATES ALL T H E W R E T C H E D WAY S W R E T C H E D WAY S T H AT W R E N C H U S SOUTH SOUTH FOR ALL DEC AY
V I WA N T T H E L I G H T O F T H E WO R L D T O POUR OUT FROM MY EYES I WA N T T H E B L U E O F T H E S K Y T O WA S H OV E R M E I WA N T T H E C E L E B R AT I O N O F T H E H E AV E N YO U G AV E M E T O D RO N E ON AND ON AND ON U N T I L M Y B O N E S H AV E T H E W E T EARTH L AID ON EVEN NOW THAT IT’S LOST EVEN NOW THAT IT’S GONE ON AND ON AND ON ALL LOVE HAS GONE I T WO R E AWAY I SCRATCHED IT’S NAME INTO EVERY C R A S H I N G WAV E I T F E L L AWAY EVEN NOW THAT IT’S GONE ON AND ON AND ON
VI THIS BED HOLDS NO ROSES IT DOESN’T KNOW THE SCENT IT DOESN’T KNOW THE GROW TH N O R T H E H E AV E N LY S WAY L AY ME BY THE ANCIENTS LET FLOWERS FLOOD THE BAY WITH FULL CELESTIAL TRUTH WITH CURRENTS LEFT TO ERASE
VII M Y L I M B S W I L L A LWAY S C A R RY YO U A S W H I T E FA D E S I N T O T H E B LU E J U S T A S T H E Y L AY H E AV I LY WHILE CRASHING BACK TO TRUTH DIVING INTO DIVING INTO DIVING INTO
VIII BL ACK MIRAGE TURNS TO GOLD BL ACK CLOUD C ALM NOW ALL PRAISE TO THE VOID THE BEAUTIFUL VOID THE HOLY VOID THE LOVE FILLED VOID THE ALL TRUE VOID IT SEEMS THERE’S A PRICE ON THE WIND IT SEEMS THERE’S A PRICE ON THE SUN IN MY EYES FREEDOM IS A BL ACK MIRAGE FREEDOM IS A BRIGHT MIRAGE W E PAY T H E P R I C E O N O U R OW N PRISON BARS
IX STAY FLOATING AS A WRECKAGE A L L P RO U D A N D A L L B R AV E NOW ETCHED INTO THE OCEAN’S FLOOR THE FLOW HAS LEFT AND FLOWS NO MORE D E A R E S T, T H E L I G H T ’ S S O T H I N D O W N HERE DRAG ME WHERE IT’S BRIGHTER JUST BEYOND THE SHORE
X B E L OW U N T RO U B L E D WAT E R S F L OW ABOVE ALL WORRIES ARE HURLED YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD DON’T EVER BE AFRAID YOU WERE THE LIGHT IN MY WORLD A N D I WA S YO U R S YOU WERE THE COLOUR IN NATURE YOU WERE THE BL ACK IN COAL YOU WERE THE WHITE IN EVERY LIGHT YOU WERE THE LIGHT IN MY WORLD T H E C R E VA S S E I N E V E RY M O U N TA I N WA S YO U T H E C U R L I N E V E RY WAV E YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD DON’T EVER BE AFRAID
XI THIS IS NO PL ACE FOR LOVELESS TRENCHES THIS PL ACE IS FOR THE FREE TROUBLED WINGS WILL SOAR AND SING B U T FA L L U N DAU N T E D LY LEARN TO FUEL ALL HOPE WITH FEAR T H O S E F O L D I N G , C R A S H I N G WAY S SUNK INTO THE BEACH FOREVER NOW A L L B RO K E A N D S T OW E D AWAY A LWAY S H U N T E D JUST BELIEVE FOREVER HUNTED ENDLESSLY
XII LIVE LONG, STAY HERE WITH ASH SET ON THE BREEZE OUR HEADS WILL REST IN THE FLAMES WE’LL SURRENDER TO THEIR KEEP LET THERE BE YEARS BEFORE WE DISAPPEAR LIVE LONG, STAY HERE LET THERE BE DECADES BEFORE WE FA D E AWAY DECADES BEFORE WE’RE LEFT IN THE JAWS O F T H E F L A M E S DECADES BEFORE WE’RE LEFT TO THEIR THRASHING AND GNASHING B E F O R E W E FA L L AWAY E M P T Y O U T A L L O F YO U R PA I N A N D FORGET IT LIKE DULL MEMORIES LET IT BE LEAD ASTRAY
XIII SLEEP WITH LOVE AND SLEEP WHEN IT’S GONE S L E E P A S B L U E S WA S H OV E R YO U HEAR THEM SING ALL TRUE F L E E A S T H E L OV E W I LT S O N A N D O N THE MOST VICIOUS HARMONY EVER SUNG
XIV AS TRUE AS MY ROOTS RUNNING THROUGH THE EARTH AS TRUE AS MY ROOTS UNDONE AS TRUE AS LOVE’S SEEDS SINKING INTO THE EARTH AS TRUE AS MY LOVE UNSUNG AS TRUE AS DUST SLOWLY FLOWING OVER THE EARTH AS TRUE AS ALL RUINS BUT ONE AS TRUE AS HOOVES POUNDING THE LONELY EARTH AS TRUE AS THE WILL TO OUTRUN AS TRUE AS JOY ROAMING FREE AS TRUE AS JOY TOWED THROUGH THE BREEZE A S T RU E A S J OY FA L L I NG F R E E AS TRUE AS JOY GATHERED IN HEAPS AS TRUE AS THE TRUTH OF FOREVER AS TRUE AS ALL LOVE UNSUNG AS TRUE AS A TRUE BODY WHOLLY ENRAPTURED AS TRUE AS ALL RUINS BUT ONE
XV POUR CURES OVER BL ACKENED EYES MENDING TRUE SKULLS AND ALL OF THEIR LIGHT LET IT SOAK INTO SUNKEN DEPTHS A N D AG A I N T O H E AV E N , R I S E TRUE HEARTS DO STILL SLEEP HERE THEY’RE ETCHED INTO THE BARK T H E Y ’ R E S P E LT O U T I N T H E B L O O D T H AT S P I LT T H RO U G H B R A NC H E S Y E T TO W I LT F RO M V U LT U R E ’ S B E A K S U P FA R LONE DREAM LOCKED IN THE V U LT U R E ’ S H E A RT THREAT LIVED IN EVERY STRETCH OF WINGS AND FELL IN EVERY SWOOP K I NG C ROW, H E A D O F T H E M U R D E R H E R E A L L PA I N T E D R E D IF I STAY HERE I’LL BE LOST FOREVER COVERED IN ALL DREAD
XVI UNWOUND NOW BY THE LONELY S O U N D O F W I LT I NG W I NG S FA L L I NG DOWN THEY FELL LONG AND THEY FELL PROUD T H E Y P E LT E D T H E C L O U D S A N D A I R U P THERE T H E D I RG E R A NG L O U D A S FA D I NG PRAYERS THE BELLOWING WEEDED OUT ALL THE G R AV E S O F A L L T RU E H O P E W E WILLINGLY BARED SHED YOUR ACHING, TINY WINGS AND GROW IN THEIR PL ACE, BETTER THINGS TREAD ON FLAKING, TINY TWIGS AND TOW BEHIND YOU, GLIMMERING CHINKS BELIEF THAT TUMBLES DOWN A L L W R A P P E D I N S I LV E R A N D WRAPPED IN GOLD BELIEF THAT RUMBLES DOWN BELOW ALL QUIETLY GROWING TRUE AND OLD T E N D E R H E A RT S R I P O L D F U RY A PA RT MENDING HEARTS CUT PULSING HATE IN HALF TENDER HEARTS SHRED SELFISH ONES A PA RT HEARTS OF BRASS SAIL OUT FOR THE BRIGHT IN THE DARK
XVII THERE GREW A HIGH TOWER ABOVE T H E H E AV E N S T H AT DAY FOR WHAT IT MAY BE WORTH BLEST ALL PURE AND FREE BLEST MAY ALL IT’S TRUE GROW TH BE W I T H C RU E L PA L M S C L AW I N G O N A N D DRAGGING IT TO IT’S KNEES THERE IS A LIGHT IN FORGOTTEN SHADOWS AND IN HARSH MEMORIES IN FLOODS THAT FLY ABOVE OUR SKULLS AND IN THE DEAD AIR BREEZE
XVIII THE SHINING ONES DON’T EVER KNOW T H E Y ’ R E WA N D E R I N G T H RO U G H T H I S WORLD ALONE ON T WO BROKEN FEET AND TEN BROKEN TOES T H E S T O N E S I N T H E PAT H S L I K E TALONS GROW THE PEACE IN THE FORESTS POUND OUT DRONES AT LEAST AS LONG AT LEAST AS PROUD AT LEAST AS FULL AND AT LEAST AS LOUD AS PEACE KNOWS HOW FOR TRUE PEACE GROWS TRUE PEACE BEATS AND TRUE PEACE FLOWS
XIX LET THE RIGHT LIGHT FLOW ON ALL WEAK SHORES LET TRANSLUCENT LIGHT GROW AND DECOMPOSE INTO NATURE’S LOVE AND INTO NATURE’S WRATH AS FIFT Y POUNDS OF ROSES CIRCLE FIFT Y POUNDS OF COAL INTO ALL ITS GROW TH AND INTO ALL IT L ACK S
XX FOR EVERY COUNTED THEFT OF LIGHT WE’LL COUNT ONE HUNDRED MORE LET THOSE TUSKS DIG IN DEEP A N D W E ’ L L G ROW O N T H E S A M E WAY THEY DOVE UNDER FOR THERE IS NO LOVE IN MEMORY ONLY LOVE IN LOSS THERE IS NO LOVE IN MEMORY ONLY LOVE IN LOSS
XXI ALL HOPE NOW C ASED AND LOW A L L L OV E PA S S E D T O A N D F RO ALL LIGHT CHAINED AND TOWED A L L F E A R S M A K E T H E I R WAY H O M E ALL FEARS FIGHT ALONE A L L B RO K E A N D S T OW E D AWAY ENWROUGHT WITH CRASHING STRAIN F O L D I N G , C R A S H I N G WAV E S FOREVER HAUNTED NOW HUNTED ENDLESSLY
XXII I LOVED YOUR SPIRIT THOUGH OUR BODIES REPELLED A S WAV E S C R A S H T O S H O R E A N D RECEDE A S WAV E S C R A S H E D T O RO C K S AND WERE HURLED BACK TO SEA AS ANGELS FLUNG INTO HELL WOULD L E AV E O, JUST BELIEVE YOU WERE FRAIL LIGHT IN A C AGE AND ALL TRIUMPHANT VICES DEC AYING WITH AGE T H E WAY YO U ’ V E G R A D UA L LY FA D E D FROM ME ALL LOSS IS TRULY CYCLIC AND ALL LOVE TRULY FREE
XXIII THE 6PM NEWS AND ITS BL ANKETS OF HAZE WA R I N A C AG E , WA R I N A R AT M A Z E THESE CYCLIC DAYS THAT STAY THE SAME WA R I N A C AG E , WA R I N A R AT M A Z E THE HUNGER WE’RE BORN INTO THE HUNGER WE’RE BORN TO RAISE WA R I N A C AG E , WA R I N A R AT M A Z E EVERY FLEETING IDYLLIC DAY E V E RY I D E A L O S T T O C RU E L WAY S E V E RY T H I N G C L E A R T H AT F E L L AWAY WA R I N A C AG E , WA R I N A R AT M A Z E EVERY FLEEING WELL INTENTIONED WAY THE THINNING OF THE ONE HERD LINED WITH BL ACKENED DAYS THE WINNING OF ONE BODY HELD BY A BL ACKENED HAZE THE CLARITY THE PURITY THE BLINDINGLY BRIGHT T H E B R AV E WA R I N A C AG E , WA R I N A R AT M A Z E
XXIV INTO THE FURNACE NOW BRIGHT SPIRIT ASUNDER, FREE AND RESONANT POUNDED WITH ALL GRIT WITH NO BONDS C AST IN IRON NOR HAMMERED OUT IN BRASS T H E L A S T M E A S U R E FA L L S S H O RT T O G I V E L E NGT H T O YO U R PAT H S INTO THE BEYOND NOW BRIGHT SPIRIT T H U N D E R C A L L S A N D W E AV E S T H U N D E R FA L L A N D L E AV E TRUE AND VIBRATORY
XXV SKIPPING THROUGH THE DESERT DRAGGING YOUR HEELS THROUGH PA R A D I S E
XXVI T H E Y ’ V E B U I LT U S M E TA L C AG E S A N D F I L L E D O U R PA L M S W I T H S T O N E S THEY’VE THUNDERED THEIR APPL AUSE SO LOUD, KNOWING WE’RE ALONE WE’VE C AST OUR PRAYERS OUT LONG AND HARD AND VICTIMS THEY’VE BECOME PULLED DOWN IN A SILENT SHIFT AS T H E Y M A D E T H E I R WAY H O M E
XXVII THE GOODNESS THAT LEFT A N D T H E G O O D N E S S T H AT L E AV E S
XXVIII GORE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE LAND’S PLAINS IT BREATHED OVER ME WITH THE BREATH OF L AST DAYS G ROW H E AV E N LY A N G E R G ROW H E AV E N LY R AG E AT L I G H T N I N G S P E E D S , C U LT I VAT E AWAY W I T H T H E C O I L I N G W E E D S T H AT GROW AWAY W I T H T H E H A R ROW I N G WA I T SWEET SPIRIT OF THE BL ACK L AKE F L OW NOW T H RO U G H T H E V U LT U R E ’ S HEART T H RO U G H T H E S PA R ROW ’ S H E A RT AND THE EAGLE’S HEART
XXIX I’LL RELINQUISH MY SHINING DIAMOND CROWN I’LL SET MY LOVE ON THE BANKS FOR THESE ARE MY DAYS AND DAYS ARE AS TIMELESS AS THE SPEED OF THE FLAMES A S T I M E L E S S A S L I G H T L E S S C AV E S EMBLEMATIC MILES CURL THEIR DISTANCE AS LENGTHLESS AS CIRCLING GRAYS TO SURRENDER AND TO SURVIVE BODY SURRENDER BODY SURVIVE I WA N T T O F E E L T H E PA I N A N D T H E HEALING ALIVE
XXX OUR MEMORIES SHOULD BE OUR OWN B U T T H E Y ’ R E T E A R I N G AWAY THEY’RE LYING TO YOU AND THEY’RE LYING TO ME BLESSED ONLY WITH RICOC HETS THEY’VE TORN OUR PROPHETS DOWN AND THROUGH THE DIRT THEY DRAG T H E Y ’ V E B U R N E D O U R S H E LT E R S DOWN TO NESTLE IN THE GROUND THEY LIT THE FIRES AND THREW US TATTERED RAGS NO BORDERS, NO FL AGS NO BORDERS, NO FL AGS
XXXI AT L AST THE LIGHT BEGAN TO COLLIDE IT BOUNCED AND STRUCK OFF PRECIOUS SKULLS THE BELLS DIDN’T RING A LT H O U G H T H E Y T R I E D THE EARTH DIDN’T SING THOUGH JOY DID FLY LIKE AGING BOUGHS AS FROST DESCRIBED HARNESS ALL SOFT LIGHT HERE NOW THAT THRASHES TRUE AND FREE THAT CRASHES TRUE AND CRASHES FREE L AY I T D OW N O N C R AW L I N G RO O T S L AY IT DOWN AMONG THE WEEDS L AY ME DOWN AMONG THE TREES WITH NATURES BREATH DRAPED OVER ME