City Ghosts

There was a time, a time for secrets. We'd walk

together in the forest, hand in hand. We'd look uneasy,

cold and pallid. Then we'd find some magic mushrooms

and we'd skip across the clouds.

We danced for the old gods, danced for the new gods,

danced for the ones we never heard about. Danced for

the old days, danced for the new ways, Danced for the

phase no-one talks about.

Tonight I feel nostalgic, feeling happy. And the powder

in my pocket's crying ``Eat me! Eat me! Eat me!'' Could

be my age, I could be going crazy. 'Cause I know you

feel the same way, I can see it in your eyes.

I got my crown, I got my scepter. Letters on my buttons

spell Napoleon. I'll give you money, give you power,

I'll give you a palace in the Amazon.

Do you think that they'll lock us away? Padded cells,

packet-soup on alternate days? Maybe we should behave

in a normal way. Face facts, face the real world.

A shadow rests, suggests no entry. A tramp complains,

collapses weeping gently. A figure smiles and shines a

blade discretely. And the drains ad-libbed a soundtrack

as he picked his victim out.

He sang in the rain, he danced in the thunder, Bowed as

we bellowed from the balcony. Stepped on a hand, set

fire to a handbag, Slipped as the sparks skipped across

his knees.

The song decayed in suits of amber. Coughing as they

burned in glowing embers. A priest held up his hands,

said ``It's over.'' We nodded wisely, scooped the ash

and cast it to the wind.

We played in the neon, bade out the paeons, slobbering

in tongues to the subway gods. Just like the old days,

rituals and red wine. Hair all tangled and covered in

blood. Do you think that they'll lock us away?