Battle Cries

(I'm at the brink, don't laugh)

(At the winks I've masked)

(Who'll save you when you fall?)

The wrinkles and bricks that we're left with at last

And that drink, will it fix all those questions unasked?

Who died? And made you king of it all

(Who wins this war? You've a knack)

(For applause from the back of the stalls but you lack)

(The conviction to look at me straight and say yes)

Now the wind is so warm on the back of my neck

As we walk with the sun hand in hand from the wreck

Some fictions we took to mean fate, believe me I know

(Don't be uncouth, be a man)

(Don't lie with your eyes, you know I despise that look)

(You're home, for God's sake I'm)

Tell the truth to me love, does my hair look as nice

As it did when it once tangled up in your eyes?

Look at me as you say this, don't look at your phone

(Done with your dreams, they won't last)

(Thirty winters will pass, you'll look back)

(At the woman fifty-year old you, will be proud to have known)

'Cause that sun that beams down as my hands touch the grass

After summers of fasting, I feel hunger at last

For the person fifty-year old me, would be proud to have known

'Cause these plates they smash like waves

(Place your smile in mine)

And the wine stains hide the tears

(Why stay? Hide the)

But that breathing you hear, don't mistake it for sighs

Don't you realize, they're just battle cries dear

And these lines aren't wrinkles dear heart

(Hardly knew the words)

They're just dollops of paint on a new work of art

(I'm dolled up, love, don't I deserve to just)

And as I walk away I know, I've been through the wars

But that creaking you hear in my bones, it's not pain, it's applause

(Come on love, please don't start)

(Sing your notes, play your part)

(Then we'll leave, we were gods)

With you I could summon the gods and the stars

Watch them dance out the plays that we wrote from the heart

And we'd laugh at the ghosts of our fears. We were kids.

(Come at me you blaggards' you'd yell)

(From the back of the gallery)

(Say goodbye, I am not)

'Come at me you blaggards', you'd yell from the banks

Wielding words against make-believe wizards and tanks

And by god, love believe me, I wanted to play too, I did

(A drunkard, a daughter, a preacher, god knows how you)

(You dragged us both into the darkness that grows)

(Oh, dear God, I won't)

But we sunk into water, no creature can know

You dragged us along to watch all your shows

Our devils broke rank, and out of the depths came an army

(Leave without a fight)

I won't let you turn our last night into this

I'm going to binge watch a box set, drink wine, reminisce

This isn't a break up dear heart, it's a season finale

'Cause these plates they smash like waves

(Place your smile in mine)

And the wine stains hide the tears

(Why stay? Hide the)

But that breathing you hear, don't mistake it for sighs

Don't you realize, they're just battle cries dear

And these lines aren't wrinkles dear heart

(Hardly knew the words)

They're just dollops of paint on a new work of art

(I'm dolled up, love, don't I deserve to just)

And as I walk away I know, I've been through the wars

But that creaking you hear in my bones, it's not pain, it's applause

(It's not pain), It's applause, (It's not pain), It's applause

All it took to unearth in the dust and the dirt

Some release, or respite, from the heat and the hurt

Was taking the time now and then to ask how I am

And now at the end, at the end of all things

I'm not going to scream, beat my chest at the wind

I'm doing fine