Green crooked straws
******* water from the ground
Supplying the leaves
The thorns
The petals
Helpful and delicate

The thorns
Taking
Not supplying
Anything
But blood
No beauty
Just pain

The petals
The flower
Beautiful
Colorful
Fragrant
The reason for the stem
For the thorns

The thorns protect
The stem provides
The flower blooms
Then the flower dies

The thorns once again
Useless
The stem
Preserving
Until the thorn’s time
Comes again

A rose if but by another name
Would still be Love's stinging pain
Yeah, that's what they say

Beauty fades, petals on the lake
But the thorns remain

And they might fall out
But you'll fall in
Yeah, you'll fall in again

Life is often dark for
those that dream

brighter for those born
kings and queens

brighter yet for the ones
that find beauty in all things

I threw bread on the ground
watching, as the rivalry begins
black birds swooping down
chasing away their fair-weather friends

the birds, every one, trying their best
back and forth, the fight, the hurt
each piece a new conquest
while only a few feet away, more bread lay in the dirt

See that you've found the circus
We're so glad that you got the invite
Entertainment that is certainly worth it
As it's all being televised

Whether or not Republican of Democrat
Go ahead and stand in line
It's moving along rather quickly
The clowns are waiting inside

In the center there's the Ringmaster
Keeping his face hidden from view
Just pretend he's not even here
As it really doesn't concern any of you

Enjoy a 20 dollar cotton candy
Washing it down with a 16 ounce Tasty Freeze
Remember all are eligible to vote now
As we no longer require an I.D.

Might want to keep an eye on the lions
As they all bite the hand that feeds
Right before they go back into hiding
Until there's something else that they need

Hope you don't mind if we turn down the lights
There are things you don't need to see
We know what's best for you anyways
So there's really no need for you to worry

Here at the greatest show on earth
Filled with rumors, innuendos, and lies
If the truth here is ever heard
You would never believe your own eyes

So bring your family out to the circus
With open arms we welcome you all
Of course we keep our hands behind our backs
Hiding that which you really don't need to know...

Your family home
has been sold
to the cultured,
the old vultures
feeding on the garden
thick with rabbits
and your father's dead
daughters, you sleep
in a pickup, tired
of work near the water,
fond of the instant,
you travel through
the country you know,
farm long forgotten,
the word free written
in red ******* your arm.