Here I stand
I'm paralyzed

Not by terror
But by grief

I am a captor
Of the past

Until it fades
Into the dark

There you are
Alive and dead

I see you breathe
I hear you speak

And yet already
You are gone

I lost you, friend
And soon enough

The only thing
Uniting us

Will be our mutual silence

How many lives
Have I destroyed?

How many times
Have I been hurt?

Set side by side
Which happened more?

Given that line
What can I learn?

--How many lives
Are there to live?

What can my rhymes
Like these achieve?

How many lies
Can you forgive?

Are we just fine
Or should I grieve?

--Do I just cope?
Or is there hope?

A lamentable lyricist
Loving and kind
Met a hopeless empiricist
Stuck in his mind

He spoke to the other
In jargon and jokes
His wit and his humor
Gave comfort like cloaks

The other liked listening
And lovingly laughed
While quietly wishing
The moment would last

In just one more moment
The truth was revealed
And the mask of the joker
No longer concealed

Below his performance
Its surface so sweet
Was a primitive poison
Disguised with deceit

The other had eaten
Enough of that brew
And seeing its evil
She knew what to do

---

The fate of the villain
Is yet to be seen
His spirit is willing
But his soul is unclean

In the midst of love
I'm reminded suddenly
I'm incapable

Happiness is real
Best enjoy it while you can
Till the darkness wins

I'm a *******
Saying so gets nothing done
Guess I'll save my breath