The Pale Boy King
Has blood on his
Hands.
Who knew a wooden sword
Could make a
Paper doll dance?
He shrieks,
“Dim the twilight,
Stop your
Mourning.
All this pleading
Reeks of warning.”

Look out below!
I’m gonna jump in the water!
Damned be the sons, damned be the daughters
Who forgive the sins of their mothers and fathers.
Damned be the sons,
Damned be the daughters.
Damned be the daughters.

There’s blood on the hands
Of the Pale Boy King.
It’s not as though he really cares,
Never used them for much of anything.
Not to fell,
Not to plant,
Take pride in friendly circumstance
That he can own but not tend to the brush,
Stories trapped under his footsteps,
Soddenness,
much.

Look out below!
I’m gonna jump in the water!
Damned be the sons, damned be the daughters
Who forget the sins of their mothers and fathers.
Damned be the sons,
Damned be the daughters.
Damned be the daughters.

Forgive them father
For they know not what they do,
Never meant to cause the death of me, the death of you.
I cannot forgive them father
For they know exactly what they do,
Raise a hand, not to stop,
But to herald
The death of me, the death of you.
I cannot forgive them father
For they know exactly what they do,
Raise a hand, not to stop,
But to herald
The death of me, the death of you.

Contend with fossils underneath that built up the avenues,
Paint with a kind of yellow from the Khmer Rouge,
Speak as if to the stars,
But stare at your feet,
Damn be those betrothed to cowardice.
Damned will be my sons,
Damned will be my daughters
Who will grow to fear the songs of their mother and father.
Damned will be your sons if your tongue lie mute,
They will grow up to be
Just like you.

The Pale Boy King
Has my blood on his hands.
The Pale Boy King likes to think,
But never cares to understand.
The Pale Boy King
Is not a king at all,
A child of eighty
Who ignores the windows,
Prefers the wall.
Hears the sirens,
Ignores the call.

Look out below!
I’m gonna jump in the water!
I pray for your sons,
I pray for your daughters.
Pray that they don’t turn out like their father,
A fool leading suckling lambs to the slaughter.

Look out below!
Look out below!
Look out below!
Look out below!
I’m gonna jump in the water!