The silence makes room
In the rubble left from the day before
Tucked deep inside glass dreams
And moldy cigarettes
Softly scoop handfuls of ash
Into sweat palms
Make ready the death mask of mourning
Paint your war face
Massage it deep into flesh
Open wounds ready to accept the sacrament
Feel the burn of the holy sun and father
Inside of you as it creeps in
Through cracked blinds and crumbling walls
Stagnant water pooled in the corner
Washes away the guilt
Baptism by fire
Drink it in
No time for doubt
No need for reflection
The casualties are behind you
And with tomorrow comes a new pile
To sift through
A new pyre to set alight
But for now there’s work to be done
The silence makes room
In the rubble left from the day before
Tucked deep inside glass dreams
And moldy cigarettes
Softly scoop handfuls of ash
Into sweat palms
Make ready the death mask of mourning
Paint your war face
Massage it deep into flesh
Open wounds ready to accept the sacrament
Feel the burn of the holy sun and father
Inside of you as it creeps in
Through cracked blinds and crumbling walls
Stagnant water pooled in the corner
Washes away the guilt
Baptism by fire
Drink it in
No time for doubt
No need for reflection
The casualties are behind you
And with tomorrow comes a new pile
To sift through
A new pyre to set alight
But for now there’s work to be done