The Wishing Chair Lyrics
Among the Americansdance to the sun
a kiss to the earth
embrace a stone
come the small black book
come the brandy cask
one strange disease
the well worded paper
signed by the drunken
hands of thieves
and suddenly
they were told to leave
as the snake uncoiled on a road
the length was eighty miles
wagons' weary horses
lead the feverish exiles
barefoot in the early snow
on a ridge
where they beheld their home
coarse and barren
not the haven
promised by the Father
Jaksa Chula Harjo
Jaksa Chula Harjo
Jaksa Chula Harjo (*
the Red Sticks first and
the Dancing Ghosts were
pierced with arms of fire
and the weeping widows
left could not avenge
so the Western Star manifest its will
drove them clear into the Pacific O
gone the way of flesh
turned pale and died
by your god's decree
for he hated me
(* Cherokee name for Andrew Jackson
the 7th president of the U.S.A.
Everyone a Puzzle Loverwhy are some men born
with minds that earn degrees
the loving cups
gilded plaques
grace their study walls
hide the cracks
while their genius is turned
to works of tyranny then
off to market to market
go selling these
with words so fiery and persuasive
they steal cunningly
riches no one can exceed
and why are some men born
with a fate of poverty
one firm bed
for a swollen back
year by year
the bodies wracked while
their obedience is had
with gradual defeat
by the pace by the pace
and the urgency
through a muddled thought
they phrase it
God knows we're deceived
barter for
what they need
and where they go
disdain and jeering
for fools to call
the noble peasantry
o how it puzzles me
I pressed flat the accordian pleats
that had gathered in his cotton sleeves
while he thumbed
yes thumbed I wouldn't say caressed
the final piece
a mountain's crest
soon to reply assuredly
o for man aged ninety years
no words to waste on sermons
he'd be pleased to answer
short and sincere
girl there's a nonsense
in all these heaven measures
it's a heathen creed
so your grandma says
but better to live by...
drink it all in before it's dry
he ended there with a rattle
cough cough
I took away the long gone cold coffee cup
as a trail of Camel ashes fell
on the floor
Cotton Alleyone time
you made me cry
be proud that I
remember
my chin is sore
the bruise is gone
but the spot is tender
gave my hand a sister coy
to where
you did enjoy
your wicked games
you curious boy
tied my laces up together
when I fell
you laughed
until your belly was sore
in the brick laid aisle behind
the five and dime store
that's how
I made you blush
but doubt if you
remember
were my tears genuine
or those of a skilled
pretender
nothing precious
plain to see
don't make a fuss over me
not loud
not soft
but somewhere in between
say sorry
let it be
the word you mean
I was a little pest who
never took a hint
could never
take a hint
you pinched my fingers
in a door
tossed my colouring book in a
rusty barrel
pulled spiders from my hair
fingers in the door
my favourite blue blouse
stained on the back
running from a berry war
can you hear me scream
in
scream in
in
Daktarilike a weasle in the clover
tilt, toss, pop, turn over
sit down
tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived
sit down
like a weasle in the clover
tilt, toss, pop, turn over
sit down
tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived
sit down
spill with your words caught
dance in your room
slide like you're buttered up
roll back the tomb
sit down
sit down
sit down
when the thunder clouds sound
ants all scatter to high ground
sit down
bolt scuff jilt chase
circle riddle shake in haste
sit down
bolt scuff jilt chase
circle riddle shake in haste
sit down
sit down
when the thunder clouds sound
ants all scatter to high ground
sit down
like a weasle in the clover
tilt, toss, pop, turn over
sit down
tremble, weave like a moth by flame deceived
sit down
spill with your words caught
dance in your room
slide like you're buttered up
roll back the tomb
sit down
sit down
sit down
when the thunder clouds sound
ants all scatter to high ground
bolt scuff jilt chase
circle riddle shake in haste
sit down
sit down
sit down
like a weasle and
like a weasle and
sit down
My Mother the Warshe borders the pavement
flanks avenues
the parades pass
white glove attended by
my mother the war
she'll raise a shaft
lift a banner
toss a rose
my mother the war
she knows every neighbor
chats at their doors
compare
econosize electric appliances
come share tea
and a seat by my
cradle with
my mother the war
forsaken vigil
three years each tour
hands of God enfold him
prayed mother of the war
haunt a doorway
beg a postman
is there word
for mother the war
5 black stars
in bitter defiance
she's spiting the corps
wet a brood
short league for combat
my mother the war
well aquainted
with sorrow
with grief
my mother the war
folded lace
carrion and
blood soaked robes
folded lace
carrion
blood soaked
shroud
my mother the war
Tension Makes a Tangleas frail hinges
pivot on a case's door
commemorative
souvenirs from places
containers change
with each occasion
a cellophane encased
display of paper
certificate
to credit years of service
a tool of central enterprises
the early hope
for permanence
the words
the rings
consistancy
the social security
a miracle is high tragedy
thought mistaken
for a memory
clear the dust from
smiles in boxes
pass a patterned wall
recall their voices
a local post
will list your friends
in order of
disappearance
the lawn scattered
tins feed birds
a portion baked for
absent guests
and the mass edition icon
God sent comfort
your salvation
but who grants absolution
for sins that
never were committed
tension makes a tangle
of each thought
becomes an inconvenience
sound as it never penetrates
as servile edges
break and
feint
thought mistaken
for a memory
a dress length
assasination
a fractured family tie
another christening
christening
christening
christening
Arbor Daywide open falsehood
the clan destine truths
rival till the end
in a series of duels
pardon the drapery language I choose
Waltz in Vienna has taught me to use
every tall room a fiction
leather bound treasure books
up to the ceiling
gold spine upon spine
the guile and the treason
the faith and allegiance
wide open falsehood
the clan destine truths
rival till the end
in a series of duels
pardon the drapery language I choose
the author grew fat to imagine
his lead pen careening
gave voice to the scheming
an Aryan cabale to dethrone
the guile and the treason
the faith and allegiance
to the empire unknown
the baron and his mistress
dine in fine banquet hall
as rebel insurgents plot in
the attic space crawl
wide open falsehood
the clan destine truths
rival till the end
in a series of duels
pardon the drapery language I choose
his small hand did strive
to explain all the
rants and raves of
a people enslaved
by the cant of the shrewdest
capable men
the guile and the treason
the faith and allegiance
now lie in my hand
the guile and the treason
the faith and allegiance
now lie in my hand