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dead flowers
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
planted seeds in a fertile mind
to grow a heart desperate to find
a garden of hope in a bed of my fears
when they bloom i harvest the blend
flowers look fine when they're already dead
can i relive these the rest of my years
i never want to leave them behind
dipped in bronze and formaldehyde
preserve the scent with a brand new guise
packing the soul of beauty on ice
first hand turns the colors to gray
second hand lets them all slip away
by the third all the beauty is lost
will i ever learn to leave them behind
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mystery maiden
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
lost in crowded city streets
she shuffles her feet
as she wanders
in fear, living in silence
no one to listen
food for the vultures
where she goes, nobody knows
who she sees, nobody seems to care
mystery maiden
carrying unneeded guilt
burning your bridges
faster than they can be built
dead, suffocated by
the weight born
on backs of the lonely
the fear, creeping like spiders
weaving its web of
shame and pity
where she fled, nobody tread
who she met nobody seems to care
four times that she tried
to take her own life
and sell it back for peace
for times that she failed
as heaven prevailed
and led her back to grace
who sees her, nobody's sure
who can heal, nobody seems to care
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nothing to prove
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
blacktop and chalk
where the children learn to fight for attention
choose your own adventure and hope
you don't deserve a detention
chutes and ladders
rung by rung
climb or fall it always comes undone
you've still got nothing to prove
executive suites where they meet
and sleep with the highest bidder
studs in white shirts on alert
for anyone who pays better
playing with the bigger boys
gives them every license to exploit
you've still got nothing to prove
high at the top of the game
we can see
one by one going down
on their knees where every favor
is rewarded with a pat on the back
oh, what a snack
for such a good, good boy!
climb or fall it always comes undone
you've still got nothing to prove
-
prologue
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
one side says testible, modern and credible
and i'll believe it when i see it
one side says infalible, ancient, intangible
and i'll believe it when i read it
but can i trust what my eyes see anymore?
raised to be militant
both sides so confident
i believe. i believe
what if i doubt each faith
who'll take me back again?
cause i can't trust what my eyes see anymore
anymore
i am blind
i thought i could see
but i'm still blind
-
requiem for a music minister
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
hands raised in pious repetitive praise
where will we end up this week
cheap, fake, so much we say imitates
an endless, bare liturgy on popular themes
charged with the task
to make it look fun
i give it my best
but know when it's done
we've faked an orgasmic
groan every time
hoping our noise will convince us it's right
stop, wait, we're babbling as if we're afraid
why can't we say what we mean
and not practice a tease
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spit and polish
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
lights, down, hush over the crowd
the critics are bursting their seams
stop, go, play, join in the game
with only one rule left to keep
hold your thoughts inside
and sign the dotted line
we hope you enjoy the show
it feels so spit and polished
just like a clockwork charade
stamped from a pattern
it all starts to sound the same
blank, numb, stares spread all around
an audience eager to please
how are you, oh i am fine
the mindless response is so chic
plug your ears and hum
pretend your playing dumb
squeeze yourself into this mold
it feels so spit and polish
once more day after day
stamped from a pattern
it all starts to sound the same
take the stage and spin
where everybody wins
oh, your future's looking bright
there,s no end in sight
it all starts to sound the same
-
stupid is
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
dirty secrets tucked away
where no one else can see
deep inside your stubborn heart
where it,s visible to me
who can blame our fathers
they're just a product of their time
stupid is, since stupid's all we've known
anger raging in the streets
tracked in on your shoes
careless words said in haste
ignite another fuse
your children see, your children do
whatever they've been told
stupid is, since stupid's all we've known
can you lead the way
through trails you've blazed
i,m scared to walk alone
a penny for your thoughts
is all i've got
don,t leave me on my own
cause stupid,s all i've known
don,t expect a miracle
to happen by itself
and file away your blunders where they're
dusty on some shelf
lead me to the water's edge
and teach me how to drink
stupid is, as stupid's always known
-
sweet company
by jonathan penn
copyright 2007
life's ebbing tide, wears a sore on my heart
our broken trust subtly raising our guard
how long will we hold our thoughts in contempt
if we last till dawn, will there be anything left?
choked by the smoke of the midnight candles
burning to keep me awake
stinging eyes searching through thickening air
desperate to find an escape, in...
sweet, sweet company
sweet, sweet company
our battlefield hosts a war we can't see
with veiled enemies ravaging souls in their sleep
don't lose sight of hope in the midst of debris
stand strong opposed in the face of retreat
dragons and villans beat at our door
and wait in the darkness to strike
the cynical wisdom says give in to them
but something within says to fight, for...
reawaken love
