Dawn Is Breaking

Remember looking at the haunted grace bow down to the

storm?

remember searching for a familiar face with no one

there

to mourn?)

Staring at silent screens

plastic tubes to carry fading dreams

preacher, servant in their hall

warm blood on the palace wall

those who dine alone in hell

wearing grief in their lapel

drop small change in wishing wells

the haunted tear that never fell

someone's dragging a ball and chain

looking for you in the pouring rain

while those who care give silent prayer for lovers

going home

If there was a brickwall surrounding the New York

scene

if there were secrets locked in steel

if there was a button you could press on the luck

machine

if there was a place for wounds to heal

if you were borne in the barbwire of your mother's

womb

if you were hungry before you died

if you say you left your bath all clean and white

you know, I know you lied

remember the poet who said it first

he was speaking of you and your difficult birth

how you can say a prayer for lovers going home

Drinking from an empty cup

waiting for the rot to grow

distant sounds that can't be heard

and no one knows

children who don't mind the rain

yet have no wish to die

whatever your own world could've been

you'd feel better if you could cry

Dawn is breaking in the graveyard

People massing in the street

trampled heards beneath their feet

children playing with the dead

silver spoon stained with red

watching through a widow's veil

as Caesar desecrates the Holy Grail

you sit all alone in your front row seat

you look so small and frail

you're mud on the feet of the men you've damned

you're darkness come too soon

you should be selling two-bit watches and girly

photographs

masterpiece in ruin

you're pantomime of old world courtesy

you should have a degree for how-o-lotry

you should be a hazard agent in an apartment tower

with no technology

did you ever listen to the poles opposed to you

did you ever stop to ask?

did you ever smile and hide your wasted lips

did you ever lift your mask?

did you ever walk with your feet on by

till they take your place in line?

did you know that you belong

where wrong is right and right is wrong?

did you really think that you'd be left where

power is life and life is death?