Alasdair Roberts
The Flyting Of Grief & Joy (Eternal Return)
Well it's eighteen years since the loud cicadasMade us leave our imperiled shoresSuch a ragged band of true crusadersTo join our Father in the war of wars.We came at last to the field of battleNear the waters of the endless LetheAnd we heard proud Joy make her sistrum rattleAgainst the fearsome ranks of Grief.And then spoke Joy, most grievously,"Abandon hope and follow me."Responded Grief, so joyfully,"Abandon hope and follow me."Meantime we'll see three forests riseAnd fall in mulch and rind-rustAnd we'll see the woodsmen turn and flyAnd the Devil take the hindmost.And I'll call upon my inmost scornTo lay upon their babies,And you'll call upon your opiate wonTo lay upon their ladies.Letras de cancionesAnd we'll see three cities form and riseAnd crumble down to fine dust,And we'll see the burghers turn and flyAnd the Devil take the hindmost.And half laid in the chamber lieAnd abandoned in some gully,And half hung on the gallows highFor folly and vain glory.And I'll stand in the fallen masonryand say my sermons seven,For all the penitents in hellAnd the celebrants in heaven.And you'll kneel in the crowded marketplaceAnd draw your vast mandalaFor Zoroaster and Mithras,Jehovah and Allah.A tithe of skin, a toll of boneA bloody libel burning,In Jericho and BabylonEternally returning.Eternally returning,Eternally returning,Eternally returning,Eternally returning.Then Joy fell slowly out of focusTo meet with Grief in the Elysian MeresFor out her breast there grew a broken crocus.From Grief there grew a rosary of tears.They grew to form a swarm of hornetsAnd they took the air and they swarmed as oneThis one apported three fire-garnetsAnd sealed the rising of the unconquered sun.
From Letras Mania