The Wishing Chair Lyrics

Among the Americans
dance 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 Lover
why 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 Alley
one 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



Daktari
like 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 War
she 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 Tangle
as 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 Day
wide 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