Really don¡¯t mind if you sit this one out.
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My words but a whisper -- your deafness a shout.
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I may make you feel but I can¡¯t make you think.
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Your sperm¡¯s in the gutter -- your love¡¯s in the sink.
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So you ride yourselves over the fields and
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You make all your animal deals and
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Your wise men don¡¯t know how it feels to be thick as a brick.
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And the sand-castle virtues are all swept away in
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The tidal destruction
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The moral melee.
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The elastic retreat rings the close of play as the last wave uncovers
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The newfangled way.
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But your new shoes are worn at the heels and
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Your suntan does rapidly peel and
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Your wise men don¡¯t know how it feels to be thick as a brick.
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And the love that I feel is so far away:
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I¡¯m a bad dream that I just had today -- and you
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Shake your head and
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Say it¡¯s a shame.
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Spin me back down the years and the days of my youth.
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Draw the lace and black curtains and shut out the whole truth.
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Spin me down the long ages: let them sing the song.
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See there! a son is born -- and we pronounce him fit to fight.
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There are black-heads on his shoulders, and he pees himself in the night.
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We¡¯ll
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Make a man of him
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Put him to trade
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Teach him
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To play monopoly and
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To sing in the rain.
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The poet and the painter casting shadows on the water --
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As the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea.
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The do-er and the thinker: no allowance for the other --
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As the failing light illuminates the mercenary¡¯s creed.
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The home fire burning: the kettle almost boiling --
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But the master of the house is far away.
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The horses stamping -- their warm breath clouding
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In the sharp and frosty morning of the day.
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And the poet lifts his pen while the soldier sheaths his sword.
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And the youngest of the family is moving with authority.
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Building castles by the sea, he dares the tardy tide to wash them all aside.
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The cattle quietly grazing at the grass down by the river
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Where the swelling mountain water moves onward to the sea:
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The builder of the castles renews the age-old purpose
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And contemplates the milking girl whose offer is his need.
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The young men of the household have
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All gone into service and
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Are not to be expected for a year.
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The innocent young master -- thoughts moving ever faster --
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Has formed the plan to change the man he seems.
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And the poet sheaths his pen while the soldier lifts his sword.
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And the oldest of the family is moving with authority.
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Coming from across the sea, he challenges the son who puts him to the run.
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What do you do when
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The old man¡¯s gone -- do you want to be him? and
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Your real self sings the song.
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Do you want to free him?
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No one to help you get up steam --
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And the whirlpool turns you `way off-beam.
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Later.
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I¡¯ve come down from the upper class to mend your rotten ways.
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My father was a man-of-power whom everyone obeyed.
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So come on all you criminals!
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I¡¯ve got to put you straight just like I did with my old man --
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Twenty years too late.
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Your bread and water¡¯s going cold.
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Your hair is too short and neat.
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I¡¯ll judge you all and make damn sure that no-one judges me.
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You curl your toes in fun as you smile at everyone -- you meet the stares.
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You¡¯re unaware that your doings aren¡¯t done.
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And you laugh most ruthlessly as you tell us what not to be.
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But how are we supposed to see where we should run?
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I see you shuffle in the courtroom with
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Your rings upon your fingers and
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Your downy little sidies and
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Your silver-buckle shoes.
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Playing at the hard case, you follow the example of the comic-paper idol
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Who lets you bend the rules.
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So!
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Come on ye childhood heroes!
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Won¡¯t you rise up from the pages of your comic-books
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Your super crooks
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And show us all the way.
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Well! make your will and testament. won¡¯t you?
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Join your local government.
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We¡¯ll have superman for president
|
Let robin save the day.
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You put your bet on number one and it comes up every time.
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The other kids have all backed down and they put you first in line.
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And so you finally ask yourself just how big you are --
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And take your place in a wiser world of bigger motor cars. |