In that mouth no flowers grow
But furious, raging flames
Dust she was a long time ago
Dust she now became

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Across the street is a factory
Where no sunlight ever falls
No lights they need to work
There’s darkness throughout

Inside the factory I am told
Nobody has dared to step
Those who did never returned
The secret’s kept intact

Despite the clear red flags I
See people every day
Try to figure out the mystery
That lies behind its door

Nights I spend wondering
What could possibly be inside
Days I spend controlling
The urge to knock at the door

Yet today I could hold it no more
The mystery has got to my head
My heart, my brain, my legs
All led me to that doorstep

I flashed my torch around
The place was filled with bottles
There must be thousands of them
Or maybe millions; I am not sure

On a long conveyor belt
The labelled bottles stood open
Sluggardly tiny black drops
Pour forth from a machine above

What were these drops made of?
The liquid was as dark as coal
It had a sickening putrid smell
I chose not to taste it

I felt a hand upon my shoulder
I’ve been expecting you — she said
She led me by the hand
To a far end of the factory

Here all the bottles were filled and closed
She pointed to one of them
And asked me to read the label
I did; it had my name on it

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Won’t you wake up when I kiss your hands
I’ve kissed you a hundred —
Maybe a thousand times
Open your eyes, open your eyes

See what grand a day is greeting us
See the trees they sway
Hear the birds they chirp
Open your eyes, open your eyes

The hands of time clutch at your neck
Will my kiss be enough
To unwound them again
Does it hurt? Does it hurt?

I’m sure the way you need your mother
I too need what’s mine
Listen to my plea
Open your eyes, open your eyes

It isn’t safe and it never will be
Without you around
I am lost at sea
Open your eyes, open your eyes

Have I sinned? Don’t punish me so
If I kiss your hand
Would you break a smile and
Open your eyes, open your eyes?

Long before winter could arrive
A dainty flower bowed her head
Her absence pricked none but
A little bush lost his friend
When winter arrived and swept
Over the land and silver moon
Every child of spring trailed
The flower who wilted too soon

This bus takes me to my school and
That one takes me home but
Which bus takes me to my mother?
I don’t know I don’t know

This bus takes me to Woodgrange Avenue
That bus takes me to work but
Which bus takes me to my mother?
I don’t know I don’t know

Here’s one bus that is big and red
Which drops me near a lake
Here’s another bigger and redder
Which I am too afraid to take
Can buses fly? Do they have wings?
It would be lovely if it were so
Which bus takes me to my mother?
I don’t know I don’t know

I can pick a bus randomly
And go wherever it may go but
Will it take me to my mother?
I don’t know I don’t know

Maybe a bus is not the best option
A horse-carriage? Or a yacht?
Will they take me to my mother
Maybe or maybe not

Won’t you come and haunt me
Every night in my sleep?
If it’s the only way for us to talk
So be it
I was caught surprised the first time
I got scared too easily
I didn’t realise what it was
What were you trying to say?
Why did I pray to never experience it again?
What foolishness have I done?
Was it your only bridge to me? To the world?
Did I burn it up? Never to be resurrected again?
If there is a way do let me know
I’ll do what I can
The hole in me is still not filled
I suppose it never will be
Tell me what I need to do
So that you can come and haunt me again

Life is a videogame
Death is the final boss
Everyone gets to face him and
Everyone loses

I want to see you
As you were when I was born
As you raised me
As beautiful as you always were
Smiling
But it’s too late now

I want to tell you
How much you mean to me
How much I miss talking to you
How lonely it is without you
How incomplete life feels
But it’s too late now

I want to listen
To your stories
About your struggles
About your wishes and dreams
To everything that you have to say
But it’s too late now

One good drink with my peers
Two kind words to my ears
Three good deeds through the years
Four old friends when Death appears

If I lived till the end of time
And watched all that I call mine
Pass me by one by one
My mother, father, wife and son
My brother, sister, my grandson
My great-granddaughter and everyone
Even though I may never get old
How much grief can one heart hold?