A Closer Walk with Past and Destiny in the Valley of the Lion and the Lamb

i've danced and sang with sinners in the rain

and i've knelt with saints in the arms of pain

the rain washed the stains of sin much faster than the bruises on my knees ever went away

the hanging church

in the righteous sky

lofty in grandeur

we reach for salvation

we reach for redemption

we reach for identity

unable to know ourselves behind the mask of ceremony or beyond the pomp of allusion

the sinners never forget the life i lived in the warmth of the sun

the saints never remember the sacrifice of life undone

the sun forgave me for the sin of living in the shadow of my temptations much faster than the sacrifice i offered in the name of shame

we reach for salvation

in the cloudless sky

we reach for redemption

in the tears we cry

the hanging church

offers identity

if we cover ourselves in the robes of ceremony that creates the illusion of purity in the fear of eternity

the sinners embrace my humanity in the wake of the evil i

the saints shun my frailty in the birth the doubting i

in my breast pocket the receipt from the sinners for penance paid

in my wallet a writ of attachment from the saints for debts due

a man can walk with sinners

and be saved by grace

a man can walk with saints

and be burdened by guilt

the choice is clouded by endless litigation of who was wrong and who was once right in the courtroom of darkness and light

the verdict weighs heavy when the judge instructs the jury to consider the path of a man who has a past to be read and a future to write

Air

only when you come up for air

lazy in loftiness

frantic in moodiness

simple plots undermined by complex ploys

this too ends in the well of medication

complete the contradiction or submit to the complications

but

only when you come up for air

when the dirt in your shoes makes its way deep into your soul

grime tracks showing in your tone when you smile and shake the hand of eternities salesman

this too ends in a well of madness

complete the accusations or submit to the implications

but

only when you come up for air

dreamy in purity

frantic in hunger

childhood abandons the man in the small hours when the cold hand of history strokes your heart

this too will end in the well of last rights

complete the obligations or submit to the benediction

only if you come up for air 

Sleep Nevermore

i kept my cards up close to my chest in a last ditch effort to walk away from this story alive
but you know what happens to non-believers preaching the phrases of madmen who climbed beyond the mountain's spire?

go on now my darling and say your last goodbyes
hold your head up high and don't let them see you cry
keep that first tear in until they see you fly
don't show them fear or give them a reason why

dance tonight on the knife edge of time in the dress you draped across my eyes
because you know what happens to lovers who refuse to bow on bended knee to the cycle of lies?

in this darkness take my hand and i will lead you to the alter of love and laughter and pain
and in that sunset of naked glory we'll burn so hot, so free and clean
wait not one second more for this last chance to be inside the starburst of grace
let my soul flow into your palace of lasting dedication and devote my words to your eternal flame


see the vanishing point of this solitary night and commit your sanctuary to my divine light
then hold me close as the small hours fade into the dawn and i will whisper goodnight
we've but one chance now- pull the trigger my angel in white 
see me slip away through the ripples in time 
don't you know i will always be the vision you can never deny?

the sun breaks through the vortex of myth
write my name on the parchment of mystery and hold it sacred
until we sleep nevermore