By Eugene Polonsky, mangy@grin.net
Date: 3 October 1997

A serenade in three parts

Part I -- Meeting.

   You
   Confused and tearypain and so lovely you.
   Thereoutthere and how can I find you.
   A sun's sweet ray in clear smiling sky,
   Beneath the stars where dreams come true.

   You
   Reach out and across eternity I see you.
   I feel your heartbeat and I love you.
   The girl with auburn hair and laughing pain
   My arms ache for the touch of you.  

   But you
   Hurt by the ice and rain, you.
   And birds cried in that hour for you
   As puddles stung your feet along the way
   Remembering all that they had done to you.

   So you
   Alone and please don't be alone, you
   And think of all the things I can still do for you
   There, in your autumn night amongst the yellow leaves
   I'll bring the torch and burn to ash for you. 


Part II -- A criticism of life.

  You
  You like the feel of maggots on your skin
  You like to scratch your fingernails on glass
  You like to feed on hearts all raw and moist
  You like to hurt me.

  You
  You dig your claws so far into my flesh
  You dessicate me, drink my blood for wine
  A red red rose that has turned too red
  You love me.

  Yes, you!
  Sink your claws deeper into me, they do not hurt enough.
  Condense the venom, it is still too weak.
  Here is my heart, still beating on my palm,
  What can I do, I am in love with you. 

  
Part III -- The Farewell.

 You
  Confused and tearypain and so lovely you
  Thereoutthere and I had never found you
  Whether that was my fault or yours we'll never know
  And so I'll sigh and wave goodbye to you.

  You
  Do not forget all those times I never had with you
  Do not surrender all the blood I would have bled for you
  Your pedestal was raised so very high
  That for the clouds in the way I could not even see you.

  But you
  You're hurt by everybody, aren't you?
  You think you'v}e taken all the pain you can, don't you?
  And with the constant rain that's drumming on your life,
  Remember that I loved you, won't you? 

  So you
  It'll take awhile but I'll forgive you
  And maybe someday I will smile at you
  But now, drowned as you are inside his eyes,
  I cannot help but sing a dirge for you.