Step Outside

I watched the news last evening, the world has come undone
I see the tide is changing has darkness finally come
I watched my soaps this morning and saw people I knew
I see them doing things that I never thought they’d do
I cried to myself as my hope started to want
I felt my mind part leaving me less than sane

Does God hear me calling?
Does He sense my need, feel my falling?
Never has a hero come before his time
Never aware of his fate till the last sign

I heard the radio playing songs of self hate and loathing
On the other station songs of cash and what you’re holding
A few songs about loss of love and the price of pride
One maybe of social injustice offering a hand to guide
Talk about the news, say something about our world today
Where are leaders for us, a helpful word to show the way

Does the world exist without a goal
Does man believe that only fate and God play a role
This is your world too, fight for what you believe
In no time others will rise and follow your lead

I watched, I see, I cried are we free
I heard, I know, I thought where will we I go
Not this way, I won’t cower, run and hide
I pulled on my coat and I stepped outside.

Shriven

That angry scowl on your face

That bitter touch in your embrace

That dismissive air of mild disgust

The inherent joy in your newfound lust

The smell of me you now must hide

My broken face, your obvious pride

These prison walls that once was a home

Filled with the sounds of your whore’s moan

Denied my dignity, stripped of my heart

Expected to be a robot, feelings that stop and start

Blamed for the rage, blamed for the pain

Everything wrong was laced with my name

Never defended myself from the planned coup

I was still too busy fighting for you

So you hated my love surviving the rend

So you needed to show me a hell without end

Take this love and throw it away

Put it down it has no place here today

You silly girl and foolish child

No one loves and my care was mild

You stupid girl and wasteful burden

You were never someone I would defend

You lack of charm and a woman’s grace

Just a boy with a girl’s face

Your company is lacking and your appeal is false

Leaving you was no real loss

Behind the words lived the truth

Never deserved the love that soothed

Fear was to know true joy

Not worthy of a love that was without ploy

Run away before I take from you

All that makes your love so true

I’ll strip your heart, wreck your soul

And then you’ll join me in the cold

Take your smile and laugh away

Nothing worthy here to make you stay

On this pedestal I’ll preserve your grace

No man again will mar the beauty of this face

Trapped in silver, encased in ice

Only she feels the true sacrifice

Away from harm, away from pain

Away from fear, penalty, and blame

On her tower oh so high, she knows no touch, standing apart

Only comfort offered by the waning glow of her dying heart

Far from anything that could reignite the flame

The parts that die out shatter to not even leave pain

An island to herself, so he may atone

She suffers the cold death of being alone

The pedestal of care, built in praise

Will see her hurried to her end of days

Skin like ice, soul slipping away infused with the lie

Knowing the whole time, without the touch of love even the warmest heart will die