DAVID SYLVIAN

DO YOU KNOW ME NOW?

from “SLEEPWALKERS”

 

And if you think you knew me then

Do you know me now?

As the ground rose up to meet me

I kissed your mouth

You wore your boredom like an armor

But I turned you out

And if that brought us to our knees

We laughed all the way down

I prised my daddy’s ring from my hand

And I made a bride

We grew a flower in the desert

We grew terrified

We were one,not one and the same

Something was lost somehow

And if you think you  knew me then

You don’t know me now.

 

The planets high above you

Spun in houses of their own

You were dropped and hit the ground running

But they failed to lead you home

 

And if you think you knew me then

Do you know me now?

I drew a child inside a womb

Justified myself

I stole the face of joy

The perfume of wealth

I atomized the boy within before he cut himself

You found the blood upon my clothes and you washed it out

And if you think you knew me then

You don’t know me now.

There were children in the classroom

Erected without a nail

There were hornets in the heads of cattle

The vibrated to the sound

 

You cried wolf

I tracked one down and let it in

There were lambs, sure there was blood

There were psalms to sing

You could just see the bone jut out

Penetrate the skin

Did it dispel beyond all doubt the mess we’re in?

You raised your head, I stared you down

You still don’t know how

And if you think you knew me then

You don’t know me now.

 

I was happy, satiated, I was satisfied.