LULLABY FOR EXISTENTIAL SWEATS IN THE PREDAWN
Bear down upon me
Circle me round
When the clock ticks
The heartbeats will pound
When the clock strikes
At four in the morn
Who’ll be there to catch you
And wrap you up warm?
Don’t fall asleep, baby
Don’t call it quits
Don’t close your eyes, baby
‘Cause that’s when time hits
Takes little bits of you
It won’t ever stop
Stay strong when you say it:
“I won’t fear the clock”
YOU JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO THINK YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS
There, you’ve done it again
Got ideas in your head
Red gloves on your hands
And a million reasons for this rain
Don’t stop running
Keep a grim front on your face
‘Cause no one cares how you look anymore
So they will never see you coming
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
Wind it up and go
You just might bring it all down
With big ideas and a well-timed kick
You're a woman, You're a ghost, You're a war, You're a blast, You're a breath, You're a beat, You're a man. We’re the ones who understand You. You’re a woman, You’re a speck, You’re a spark, You’re a maze, You’re a tube, You’re a man, You're a game. We’re the ones who know your names. We’re the book tucked on your shelf. We’re the tongues that pray for help. We're the wing-eyed, cloven-hoofed. We're the mercy seat unhooked. We’re the we’re the we’re the We and you’re the You still unfolding.
And the want goes on and on
I wish you were in my arms
I wish you were in my bed
I wish we were in the garden
tending to the nightshades
so that they grow up strong
If I could have that
If I could have just that
Do you think we ever get exactly what we want
Do you think we ever know exactly what we want
If you’re not in my arms
it don’t matter how we're dressed
it don’t matter how we’re torn
and broken by the world
I wander the garden at night alone
and the want goes on and on
If I could have that
If I could have just that
Do you think we ever get it
Do you think we ever know
I'm a student
I do homework
I’m a student
I read books
I read books
I’m a student
I’m getting graded
I’m a student
I’m a student
I read short stories
I I I read poems
I read histories
I read formulas
I read policies
I’m a student
I’m my work
I got expelled
I got suspended
I got caught up
I got a process
I got a plan
I’m a student
I do work
I’m in a class
I am a class
I do work
I’m a student
I do work
I’m studying to be
I’m studying work
I’m a student
I’m paying attention
I’m reading things
I’m being examined
I’m keeping up
I’m falling behind
I’m falling out
I’m falling off
I’m falling down
I’m a learner
I’m a student
I do homework
I’m breaking hearts
I’m figuring it out
I’m becoming
I’m presenting
I’m reporting
I’m dissertating
I’m a student
I’m matriculating
I’m in a room
I’m reading books
I do work
I’m really getting this
I’ve got questions
I’m a wonderer
I’m a wanderer
I’m asking questions
I can’t let it go
You were the hungry one.
You were the ornery one;
the haunted one that survived…
the only one I ever loved.
You were the hopeful one.
You were the faithful one;
the sacred one I waited for…
the only, only one.
Now I know without you
how the slow days go so lonely.
Now I know without you
how lonely days go slow.
Now I know how isolation
spreads everywhere like cancer.
Now I know how it feels to be
some fruit left on the vine…
long past picking time.
You were the precious one
I can’t let go of.
You were the cautious one
I couldn’t fool.
You left me lifetimes
to remember, darling.
Now I’m living lifetimes
of over-ripe regret.
There will be no purpose to them, to them And there will be no purpose to them There will be no purpose to them, to them No, there will be no purpose to them The creatures great, the creatures small came when called to gather 'round. When long ago the gods did make their creature-gathering sounds. From within a semi-circle vast and ever deep and wide, the creatures held their holy deities in such sparkling, innocent eyes. The gods they spoke in hushed tones, so rumbling, low, and grave. Hushed tones that turned the creatures' hearts to a dismal, grey dismay. The gods proclaimed, then disappeared each one by one by one. And nothing did they leave behind save Earth and Moon and Sun. The creatures held each others’ hands to help them ease their pain. Then some began to sing a song to sing their hurts away: There will be no purpose to them, to them And there will be no purpose to them There will be no purpose to them, to them No, there will be no purpose to them
Well, the pumpkins are glowing
The candy is flowing
And nobody knows
Where the ghosts are a’going
Cause it’s Halloween
And all I wanna do
Is dress up like a werewolf
And kiss all over you
Yeah it’s Halloween
And all I wanna do
Is dress up like a werewolf
And kiss all over you
And maybe trick or treat
Until we’re black and blue
And when the moon goes down
And it looks like we are through
We’re gonna drink ourselves
Some crazy witches’ brew
We’re gonna scream
We’re gonna howl
We’re gonna moan
We’re gonna growl
Cause it’s Halloween
And all I wanna do
Is dress up like a werewolf
And kiss all over you
Yeah the pumpkins are glowing
You know the candy is flowing
And no body knows
Where the ghastly ghosts are going
On Halloween
Oh on Halloween
It’s my favorite scene
Do you know what I mean?
It’s Halloween
Oh Halloween
I keep my coffin clean
When it’s Halloween
That’s right
it’s Halloween
and all I wanna do
Is dress up like a werewolf
And kiss all over you
Kiss all over you
Kiss all over you
Kiss all over you
Kiss all over you
do not fear the sun
True vampires
fear running water
creatures undying
from thirst
I am not a true vampire
because I fear nothing
except the sounds of life:
my heartbeat beat beating
thick blood that pulses against the walls of aging veins carrying to everything the air I come from and am becoming
I have seen true vampires
hesitating, panting, pacing along the river quays
calling out to family and friends
forever stuck in place
until the river changes course
or exhausts itself
into a winding, weaving trail of ash and dust
I have seen true vampires
And I fear nothing except the sounds of life
Floating down The River of Darkness Floating down The River of Night Floating down The River of Nothing Got a feeling Something ain’t right Floating down The River of Sorrow Floating down The River Gone Black Floating down The River of Goodbyes Don’t know when I’ll be floating back
Jason Preu 
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