Angel Dies

 

Angel Dies

 

 

Now my time is come to break steel rules,

unbox compass, steady her in gold housing,

unfurl those mildew yellowed ancient charts,

tap brass barometer, set her fair to sail by,

fix sextant by your constant northern star,

grasp all power of storms in my right palm,

and let them strike free, break glowering staff,

all hands on deck, man the battle stations,

rouse surly chronometer, bring her hard about,

plot course for summer-lands, sacred nation,

kiss Cornish winds, fill out pregnant sails,

now, warm spinnaker, blossom and strain;

that loving spell Angel spoke, she casts again.

 

Give fuck-it one final triumphant last hurrah,

see once all we were, we will soon further far

for this return. It quite took me by surprise,

opened amazed heart and, see where it flies,

thaws winter ice like it was yesterday, none

ever happened, orchard sings summer song

clear bewildered head of madness and grief,

stealing jewelled anguish like exultant thief.

 

Now you hold this battered heart in your hand,

to crush perhaps for a second time, I’ll stand

too, so blow hot sand into glass, see it shatter

into venom serpent stabbing shards of spite,

then again, my sweet, trust in friendship breeds

behind me murder, away with selfish greed,

love could sing in butterflies of loving need.

 

For all loved ones in our care never will again

despair, see my hand placed in yours will dare

to bridge all we thought was lost, span in trust,

promises never broken, now those pledges must

draw our eyes, draw lace strings, draw tassels red

that, Angel, take time, oh, to rest us sweet in bed.

 

And once all vast spaces because you even were

now only exists where you breath not. See there,

time will pick up guitar, Ziggy, adjust your scar,

rampage in bass across stages, speak pages, far

travellers together, both only love’s beginning

my heart, straight back down to earth grinning

Angel no more, with John’s work to do burning

in our souls together; each forever in learning

how to touch our fingers, one then five, alive,

alive, oh, we come together, as our Angel dies.