From the Book of Revelation ~ Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Revelation 22 (NIV)

Revelations and Fire Dances walk
exotic ego trips on LSD
veritably, back in the day, we saw
electric anarchy, I cannot talk
less said is more, Killing Joke in L.A.
an amphitheater, my memory
terrified by torches, makeup, the raw
introduction to the Dark Arts, shake hands
or sign your name in blood, as they say
nobody understands your sacrifice

Twenty-two, old enough to drink and smoke
went south with the Monarchs to taste the spice
everyone always says that they are broke
not a red cent among their swollen glands
tying running shoelaces with slipknots
you perform magic tricks for unicorns

two years is long enough to learn it all
wonders never cease, the world filled with bots
old dog, new tricks, soon caught, stick in the mud

New International Version, who scorns
everybody as the Other, the gall
women and children first, with men second

If— as Kipling writes, the cow eats her cud
now, in the concert of my dreams, return
terribly impossible, as you see
everyone tries to remember, to spurn
reality for personality
nothing gets in the way, memories fond
as riding our bikes to Camel Records
time and again, after school, to visit
in store, Sam and Heidi, or Kirk and Greg
of course, they do not wonder, with no words
no one no longer ever thinks of us
at all, no, not even a little bit
little by little, even if we beg

Versions of the same old story, the song
everyone sings at the ballpark, to suss
realistically, we are old, obscure
serious or silly, as must needs be
invent another world that will endure
old beach town finances, black gold, agree
no one knows, we were good, and rarely wrong