The Great Elsewhere

Talking, what's it good for? Absolutely nothing Wrestle, let's wrestle You can pin me to anything Thought I saw you in my tea leaves Thought I saw you in a forest flame I'll fill up the silence with the sound of your holy name Knowledge of the sea-ways, knowledge of how the water flows Whoever coined the phrase has never had to brave the snow I climbed the shroud to the top-sail and I peeked through the glass The curvature bisected by a wintry mizzen mast The scar upon my stomach, I call it my Flying V And every time I show it, I can feel your eyes on me How many islands will surrender to the blunderbuss? And how long must we sail before you show your face to us? Followed him out to the end of the pier "Don't come any closer," he cried I am afraid of the man I'll become if I lay my Life down for a people who I don't even care for Face to his face, I put my Hand into his and I tried to tell him no I've seen his work upon the panes of cathedrals In the sweat of the workers and the flight of the seagulls My words were drowned out by the sound Of the motors and rowers, the ship as it ran aground And from the trees came a thousand soldiers I went down on my knees with a spear in my shoulder About face, about face, I swam back to the Victoria I shiver with the memory Memory of the island dwellers And the indifferences of the Storyteller --- The Great Elsewhere - Owen Pallett