Marching Band

Two bodies broken into a bloody sweat

Sick of each other, of the war sicker yet

Killing and dying, neither have succeeded

Call up the council and tune up the marching band

Time for a sentence, this period has to close

Fires lit and blade sharpened while the drummer rolls

The dog and the flogger, spent, heaving, and abashed

Fetch to the bench now and strike up the marching band

Strike up the marching band

And strike with a mighty hand

And strike with the marching band

And all that I am

And all I have been

Comes retching up from within

If I had known

All that I now know

I would not have been here

Strung up on the lancing pole

Rising from the gutter in pieces and in chunks

The dog and the flogger embrace and become one

The council announces the rite to be received

Offer up and lay it down and follow the marching band

The altar is waiting, procession underway

The two-made-one-to-become-none nod and cheer on the marching band

The cheer of the marching band

The churn of the marching band

The churn of the marching band

And all that I am

And all I have done

Is dragged out into the sun

If I’d only known

My God I did know!

I should not have fed them, starved those demons long ago

Rejoice with the marching band

Rejoice with the marching band

Rejoice with the marching band

Rejoice with the marching band

And all that I am

And all I could be

I lay down wholeheartedly

And claim as my own

The hole and the throne

The birthrite is waiting

Strung up on the lancing pole.