Still there.

I fiddle with the fetters
that chain my soul
completely, and
weep.

Are you there?

I crawl and
creep, around
the four corners of
this prison cell.

Are you there?

I bleed
anxiety.
I feed
on tomorrow's promises.

Are you there?

I starve; since, the soul
cannot live--
on a diet of sin.

Are you there?

I take sick pleasure in
unconsciousness:
"Sleep is the poor man's bread."

Are you there?

The ghosts of dreams
I dreamt then, still control me,
and I fantasize about
death.

Are you there?

I awake, weary, and
you
are there.

I lay down
in bittersweet rest, and
you
are there.

You love me! You love me!

So this cage is not so grim, nor these mortal blues I sing
all-consuming.

I have you, and that's all I need.
You love me! You love me!

An electrifying touch:
DEFIBRILLATION
I revive to your passionate gaze!

"Amazing grace, how sweet the…”
EXPLOSION
that liberates and redeems!

Enter Savior:
Inhale agony,
Exhale peace.

Ballad 1: The Darkness

Part I

In the Year of Our Lord, MMVII, on the XXVIIth Day of the XIth Month;

TO THE DARKNESS:

Darkening darkness
Stay your ground,
Fill me no longer
Before I drown!

Darkening darkness
You immobilize sound
And paralyze me
When no help can be found.

Darkening darkness
Like tar and like pitch
Pray, let me alone
And let me resist!

Darkening darkness
I see we’ve agreed;
With the last words I spoke,
"My soul's yours for some peace."

Part II

Darkening darkness
Let go of my soul!
I cannot feel my heartbeat
In your frigid fist’s hold!

Darkening darkness
Now I am dead.
What have you accomplished,
Now I lie cold in bed?

Pale, sweet Morning
You shall still come,
Though my soul was lost,
In sweet Light I have won.

Though my body is dead
And soul wrought in chains,
Your light splits the darkness
As lightning splits rain.

And I am new again.
I am new again.

Darkening darkness
Don’t you see that I’ve won?
Now I am free, but your
Sick hunger lives on.

Holy Ballad 1

To think, to think! That such as we,
Can represent Love's majesty!

~

On earth below from heaven above
T’was man from dust form’d by His Love.

~

The breath of life He imbued sweetly,
And man arose in spirit comely.

~

Yet Eden was not bliss enough
To keep loneliness from man’s heart

~

Then said Love as He looked below:
“'Tis not good for man to be alone.”

~

Thus in Love’s song He ordered sleep,
And with one bone He gave man beauty.

~

“Bone of my bones! Flesh of my flesh!
How lovely art thou frame!

~

Beautiful is your countenance,
And Eve shall be thy name!

~

For Love did make thee in my doze
And love was born when I arose!

~

For we were made one for the other,
That in one flesh and mind together

~

We, like Love’s Holy Trinity,
Could be made in love like Love’s own glory!

~

To think, to think! That such as we,

Can represent Love's majesty!

~

To think, my love! That such as we,
Could represent such majesty:

~

‘Tis a thought too high for me!
‘Tis a thought too high for me! "

A Dream

They came for me,
They came for me!

In uniform they came in rank,

And told me to believe!
And told me to believe!

One reached for me,
Yes, one reached for me!

And I fell before his hand;
I fell before his hand.

Against a fence,
against a cold metal fence,

They questioned me, and
I wept, bitterly, for

They told me to believe!

And on that cold floor did I weep,
On that cold floor I did weep, and

I had no one to console me.
There was no one to console me.

In some darkness there, alone.
In that darkness there, alone.