Eleven

11.1

A Funeral, A Lantern: To guide us,

And this Body across the river.

"He floats like driftwood."

"He'll tote behind us."

All around, the Patiently Waiting.

Their lips whispering, whispering.

And in their breath the lamplight dances.

Flickering, Flickering: "Halleluiah!"

Flickering, Flickering: "But who turned out the lights?"

And in a procession of this pitch--

Nearly perfectly plucked from the blackest nest,

Hungry mouths agape for the taste of flesh and blood sacrifised

Like rats to the river or packs of children enchanted by the tune of the pipe--

This funeral song is the only form of progression we know.

Nail the arch of the hooved-beast above your door,

Opposite crucifix-topped headboards

Where you lay your head but no sleep doth arrest your soul.

(And if salvation don't come, If salvation don't come, cry,)

"Oh God, if you take me, dont let me walk alone."

11.2

(Dear Congregation)

Quote me something to justify.

Now something to condemn.

Tell me how much I'm loved,

And how I'm going to Hell.

What does that say of you

And the free-will that you claim God has given us?

This is my right to Choice,

My obligation to Question.

Call it Divine Intervention

Or just Human Nature.

Quote me something to justify.

Now something to condemn.

Tell me how much I'm loved.

And that I'm going to die, and my face will fade

Into the dark, floating away.

Someday I'll see you in the dark.

11.3

A rose, a rose, a thorn: A briar patch.

With blossoms blooming, burning, burning.

Where ivy clings, the vines are turning

First green then brown then red then black then nothing.

The wind picks up, the ashes fly.

"Look Alive!"

11.4

A letter, date missing:

"Dear Mother, Dear Father,

Mutiny's rising. I'll soon meet my maker!

Oh my god! (What's your name?)

Oh my god! (Now say my name.)"

But the magic is lost

As the palms hoist their burden,

(Heave!) The first-born son

(Ho!) To the obsidian water.

11.5

Raise your hands! Close your eyes!

Sing aloud! Give Praise!

Sing your songs of Halleluiah,

Let your spirit flow right through you.

And the spirit lead by emotion

Is the same that I'm evoking.

And some day...

11.6

"In the darkness together,

We'll float on forever,

Searching for a shore

We'll never find." **

And when we're finished

And we've paid our penance,

Can we finally, finally

Get some fucking sleep?

(Don't tell me that everything happens for a reason.

Nothing happens for a reason.

You live your own way,

Let me live mine.

Because we only die once,

And its for oh so long.)