Dismal Mountain

Summon Me! From Dismal Mountain
Where fallen prayers drift slowly down
Where ash of fallen prayer lies mounting
From the privy of the Beast!

Take Me!  Shake each Gilded Logic
From dreaded Death!  From dung deposits!
From the liars’ breath of thieves!
From Serpentes, friend of Eve!

Spill me!  Spill my ancient grief!
My faith that God once had in beasts!
Spill the essence of my clay
The long of Night! The breadth of Day!

O Hear!  Echoic from this ashen fell
Where idols leant and fallen dwell—
My Lords-in-waiting!  Seneschals!
Summon Me!

 

A few words:  

Serpentes (sir-pent-eze): a name in biology for the snakes— used here as the given name of the serpent in the Garden of Eden.

Fell: a hill or highland.

Leant is leaned.  Rhymes with lent.

Seneschal: an officer or steward in a medieval noble household, in charge of servants and their duties, ceremonies and administration of justice.  Reminds me of a lieutenant in an old crime family. 

The premise here is that The Beast has no power of his own; it is first begged or stolen.

This lyric comes off as heavy metal in my head. With liturgical effect.

Published in: “Letter to the White Imbongi” 2013

If a man whispers peace in a field for the dead

If a man whispers peace in a field for the dead
will he be heard or will it be said
that the voice of one man is a lie?

If a man calls out peace from a box in a park
will he be heard or left lone in the dark
with the murmur of madmen and lies?

If a man cries for peace and names Allah or Yahweh or Christ
will he be heard or were they sacrificed
under flag? under bomb? under fire?

If a man offers peace with peace in his heart
will he be heard? Is that how it starts?
Someone— Anyone with peace in their hearts—

Will we be heard? Is THIS where it starts?
If we fail, my dear friends, who will live?
      The War-Men have no peace to give.

 

Published in: “souls arriving” 2006: as version “If…”

LOGIC STICKS

Don’t beat me with your logic sticks
It ain’t that I can’t take the licks
My skin is thick, as thick as bricks
It’s just I’ve had my fill of it

Chorus
          We’ll beat you when you’re up
          No, we’ll beat you when you’re down
          No, we’ll beat you when you’re up again
          And beat you when you’re down

Descartes rests headless in his tomb
Cogito ergo—ergo whom?
Don’t beat me with your logic sticks
Fidem! ergo sum (Faith! therefore I am)

Chorus

Don’t care what makes your logic tick
It ain’t that I can’t take the licks
Don’t know where your logic’s been
Logic gets around

Chorus

Don’t beat me with your logic sticks
My skin is thick, as thick as bricks
It ain’t that I can’t take the licks
IT’S JUST I’VE HAD MY FILL OF IT

 

Christians Everywhere Sing Joyful

Prayer and Glory! [a single voice, calling]

Jesus! [more voices, tumultuous, joyful]

Leading each of us to heaven
He with neither sin nor hating
Christians everywhere sing joyful
Loving each of God’s creations
Praise Him! Praise Him! Every nation!
Praise the King this Christmas morning!
Prayer and Glory!
Christ, Our Savior, Christmas born! .

Christians everywhere sing joyful!
Prophesy has come to pass
Jesus, sent for our salvation
God, Our Father, gathers us
Praise Him! Praise Him! Every nation!
Praise the King this Christmas morning!
Prayer and Glory!
Christ, Our Savior, Christmas born!