To Kill A Messenger

Scene One, Act One:
A cry went up...
A head came down
And rolled across the floor
The mercy of the once renowned
And silver for the shores
A man born to shackle stone
A grimace and a whore
They lacked the space to call it home
A splinter from the floor

All steam and blood and Benjamin
All steam and blood and curse

Take a bath above the trap
Rinse twice and fill their purse
Deed and weeds all will be lost
Upon these streets of gold
Streets of gold they love to say
A trick of light I aught to know

Your burdens in your skin and bones
Your shiny shoes now worn with holes

A wisp of smoke on dusty streets
As acrid death and nostrils meet

You can always tell them anywhere
You can pick them from a crowd
They carry their conscience in their shoulders
And they step each step hard down

No these are not good days my friend

As they say sadness accrues
I guess that makes this place big bank

And makes us bolts and screws

Scene Two, Act One:
I’ll take delight from their deaths
I'll give them bad as good it gets
I had to work for all I have
And for all my time I gave
Now they whisper slight of hands
And eyes speak of new hate
It’s not a simple scene as told
And the turn to violence far too bold
So come to my door as torched flame
Knock will be answered surprise thy name
In the courtyard the trap now set
And the men with axes whet
Soon will be blood on old soil
Shutter to think earth may boil
A tragic lesson far and wide
Revolutions heart had died

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Scene Three, Act One:
Ahhhh cry went up to the heavens
On dusty knees with wide eyes reddened
Lonely old bucket and rake as witness
And the Lord asking forth forgiveness