Spectre

BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
2000

SOMEONE'S STILL GATHERING FLOWERS
PLAYING IN THE YARD AT THIS VERY HOUR
THEY DON'T FEEL THE CUT OF THE WIND
NOT FROSTBITE AT ALL TO BURN THEIR SKIN
I WONDER THOUGH IF THEY'RE EVEN AWARE
THAT LOVE HAS EVAPORATED INTO FEAR
IT'S LATE AND SOMEONE'S CLOSED THE DOOR
HAS PUT OUT THE LIGHT AND LOCKED THE STORE
ALL THAT WAS PRICELESS HAS NOW BEEN HIDDEN
AND WHAT WAS SO LOVED IS NOW FORBIDDEN
DON'T EVEN VENTURE TOWARD MY ROOM
A TAP ON THE DOOR JUST ECHOES WITH GLOOM
JUST CLOSE YOUR EYES AS I HAVE CLOSED MINE
REMEMBER THE SWEETNESS OF A BETTER TIME
BUT DON'T ASK ME TO EMBRACE THOSE DAYS
OR TRY TO SWAY ME WITH A TENDER PHRASE
YOUR WORDS WILL SHATTER AS THEY LAND ON THE DEAD
LOST IN THE DARK IN THE GRAVE IN MY HEAD
SO CLOSE YOUR PETALS LEST THEY FALL AWAY
PROTECT THEIR MOISTURE AND CONTINUE TO PRAY
ALWAYS FORGIVE AND REMAIN SOFT-HEARTED
YOUR MOST VULNERABLE PART MUST ALWAYS BE GUARDED
IT ANGERS ME WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK ILL OF YOUR IDEAS
AND KILLS ME TO SEE YOU DRIVEN TO TEARS
MY MIND IS IN CATACOMBS WHEN YOU'RE IN MISERY
AND I JUST WANT TO DIE WHEN I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF ME
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH TO SHOULDER
BUT MAYBE I'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHEN I'M OLDER
THOUGH FOR NOW IT'S SORROWFUL AND UNBEARABLY BLEAK
EVERY SMILE BURNS AND MY BONES ARE WEARY AND WEAK
I CONJURE A SMILE WITH EVERY INSINCERE PROMISE
DELIBERATELY DROPPED TO BRING SOME TEMPORARY SOLACE
I'LL SING YOU THE SONGS THAT ARE SWEET TO YOUR EARS
WITH A SILENT COUNTER-MELODY OF DESPAIR
YOU'LL FEEL THE LOVE OF MY HEART'S EMBRACE
THOUGH LESS AND LESS WILL YOU SEE MY FACE
YOU WON'T NOTICE AS I WALK AWAY
SO ENRAPTURED YOU WILL BE IN YOUR JOYOUS DAY