Vic Chesnutt - North Star Deserter
Warm
warm, the body is warm
the muscles twitch
the posture compensates
and cold, the arrow is cold
the friction warms nothing
but the point is pure
the wound it is secure
trial by error
follow a sun
and the one we have will do
what is the message on those gamma rays
that are a'penetrating you
do they say that the end
is a-coming soon
or do they say forget the sun
worship the moon
but whatever it is our pinhole prespective
cannot a'translate sufficiently
but any way, A or B
you know, it's alright with me
Glossolalia
I am a stranger
lurking alone in my own vicious wilderness
while the meat in my chest
squeezes and teases a hulking hunger
groping in motion
balance is but a shimmering notion
and lurching compelled
my soul in its special hell of wet mortal limits
perpetually thirsting
but i bask in a beautiful by-product
from twisting torque of dichotomy
what my eyes do see
in this spilling, dead wicked desert
it dances
born of babble
is now raison d'etre for the rabble
i sing my soul
with tongue
a sword in the sunlight
thrashing and flashing
glossolalia
Everything I Say
the barn fell down
since i saw it last
it's rubble now
well so much for the past
everything that i say
does me this'a way
everything,
every little thing i say
does me this'a way
some call her a thief
and some people call her a prophet
but her courage is brief
brief as little, little miss muffet
everything that i say
does me this'a way
everything,
every little thing i say
does me this'a way
she wanted to
be an inventor
but nothing new
was all she could muster
Wallace Stevens
i saw a blackbird
thirteen ways
then strew a fist many
mountains away
my evangelism felled
brutally taken
by breezes that rubbed me
and lifted light raven
i stretched to borrow
fine antebelleum
to encase all the scrapings
of us civilised fellow
i wanted to stash them
to secretive cages
with that fabulous blackbird
of thirteen stages
You Are Never Alone
it's ok, you can take a condom
it's ok, you can take valtrex
and it's ok, you can get an abortion
and then keep on keeping on
it's ok, you can take a prilosec
and it's ok, you can take vioxx
and it's ok, you can get a quadruple bypass
and then keep on keeping on
you are never alone
it's ok, in moderation
it's ok, cutting down
it's ok, you can quit tomorrow
but for now keep on keeping on
it's ok, you can take the bible
and it's ok, you can be saved
and it's ok, you can be forgiven
and for now keep on keeping on
you are never alone
Splendid
in the pasture we run free
by the spring creek we lie down
in the pine thicket we are pricked
in the dry wash
we come across an incomplete set of bleached bones
splendidly full of life
wandering the countryside
down the logging road we stray
in the orchard we feast
to the rocky ridge we persist
as the sun sets
we are enveloped by oddly energized orange light
splendidly full of life
wandering the countryside
on the beach we had fun
by the rocks in the sun
we were young we were free
we were wild as the weeds
below cliffs
surrounded by driftwood
we did everything we could
we did everything we
everything we could
Rustic City Fathers
those rustic city fathers were realtors,
realtors
and all that profit taking
was a beautiful awakening
they built themselves a beauty by the ton,
ton by ton
i went there in a panic or for fun,
or for fun
i thought i had a calling
anyway i just kept dialling
and i sat beside the big puddle like a shriner,
angry shriner
so i went to view the tower
its majesty on a dead end street
it was a very long journey
and it took a lot of energy
i strode across the flat battlefield in the sun,
the filthy sun
Over
it ain't over til it's over
just like some joker said
when it's over it is done
and when it's done it's as good as dead
when it's good it sure is good
yes and when it's good it's great
when it's great it's oh so wonderful
but when it ain't it ain't
it sucks when it's over
and you can't get it back
why do we all want to
like a pack of necrophiliacs
when the fat lady sings
it's all been sung
collect up your belongings
and clear the auditorium
it was fun while it lasted yes it was
it was fun while it lasted
now it's all turned to dust
it was fun while it lasted i must say
it was fun while it lasted
now it's all blown away
everything blows away someday
everything turns to dust
big ol' mountains do
as well as everyone of us
and i love the dust
Debriefing
when i stop breathing
and my poor old heart finally gives out
i will spend eternity
debriefing, debriefing, debriefing, debriefing
when i deplete the funds
and they're forced to pull the plug
chisel on my tombstone
debriefing, debriefing, debriefing, debriefing
Marathon
to-do lists on a long yellow legal pad
blue windsor knots framed by basic black
resplendent tables
great forests of paper plates
carrying the weight of the world
saps every ounce of your strength
in training to run a marathon
miles and miles and miles
with your sunday shoes on
in training to run a marathon
miles and miles and miles
with your dress shoes on
but all the recurring dreams
will increase and then peter out and cease
tears do evaporate
but oh so slowly like piss on toilet seat
in training to run a marathon
miles and miles and miles
with your sunday shoes on
in training to run a marathon
miles and miles and miles
with your dress shoes on
Rattle
keeping it on the road
keeping it on the road
can't say i didn't rattle the load
but i'm keeping it on the road
can't say i didn't rattle the load
but i'm keeping it on the road