Berna Three

My eyes try to fix a place, where we just carry on, and no one feels the pain, or cares for the drones, that rise like Babylon, beyond the time zones, when he sees my face, the running lines of alcohol, it’s all suddenly plain, a time to stay alone, a wolf howl at the moon, not like being home, maybe I'll take a train, find last winter's love, ride around the Bay, who knows how it’ll go, a trapeze of broken runs, heavy as a stone, how do you kindle flame, bleach your hair use a comb, can we ever really say, what we're made of?

Berna Two

Out by the long lights, side by side in harmony, we are cool as anthracite, why take a train, or sail on the lee, when you jump a plane, so far we're all right, who needs reason, act like young socialites, it's fun being away, we won't ever concretely, inquire about pain, a long silent night, doesn’t stand scrutiny, that morning can’t buy, our horizon’s frayed, the sun is all-seeing, it beats out the stain, we want to be free, we say from on high, below us the sea, don’t ask me why?

Berna

I dream of his class, silken not torn, listening to him gasp, struggling without scorn, broken unsought, I feel reborn, landing in the traps, dancing on thorns, he’s a modern-day iconoclast, what have I caught, riding this storm, a penny for your thoughts, can you say it overlaps, now that he's gone, hidden under Burlap, I fed him corn, he broke the fast, now I’m alone, on the next mountain pass, I'll have him clawed, love cannot crash, short of his shorts.

Robert Four

What it means to fly, within a screaming gale, no use trying to lie, in my bones, I don't need a trial, to find myself alone, studying a time, when all measures fail, and you search for style, can we atone, or do we always fail, when shame drags us home, flip a coin to the sky, talk of finding sail, I always leave this way, drink wine from broken cones, search for desolate mail, throw stones at ghosts, they say it's worse than jail, forsaken all the while, when you hit the trail, brightened by a smile.

Robert Three

A worn-out empty feeling, hot kitchens bad aches, something leaking, she brings me the news, with a doctor’s face, when you know the truth, but also the sea, an artist bright unfazed, for this old has been, looking for something new, a need to get away, she plays me Delta Blues, blows it on the street, all she works and saves, nothing left to seek, I'm still left in perdue, falling like the rain, down broken avenues, it sends me reeling, by St Luke’s place, kills me with her being, these sunny days.

Robert Two

Tell me, tell me why, they treat me so unfair, my lips dissolve their cries, who says to run clear, call for stolen hurt, demand a veil of tears, I command a beautiful sight, candles scent the air, bells ring out the night, my life contains all grief, in yellow-robed nightshirts, fresh from sleep, I walk like a man gone by, through the city desolate, while they search my eyes, will they ring my feet, slash or burn my furs, ask them to entreat, these days without care, they love orators here, in darkness and green light, I'm ready to go first.

Robert

He seeks explosive release, in what he cannot find, nothing seems to please, he won't hear good news, love is just a grind, a cover-up for truth, with the kiss of blasphemy, he doesn't do sublime, or give anyone a treat, why disguise the Blues, or nourish his sweet mind, no one’s there for you, he shakes his keys, when December chimes, work’s no Odyssey, chained to a loving need, for his family’s crimes, he'd rather bleed, forget any sense of ease, of justice place or time, the path to any freedom, another clock to wind.