The Burning of the Temple, 2012

“Hey now, brother – where you headed so slow?” “Hey now, sister – I’m going to burn down the Temple” Tagged above the gateway: “Know Thyself”, scripture for yesterday Somebody’s mother chilling in an urn Placed on an altar that too was built to burn And a dream of grief, clarity and loss While we’re bearing then burning our cross Ages to ashes, dusk to dust Churches to chimneys, love to lust When you’re crying in the shadow of love Is it matter-out-of-place What secrets vanish for the human race When you’re crying in the shadow of love? I want to be free… please let me go Free to go wherever the winds may blow Free to wander, free to dream or stay The right to remain silent or the right words to say Let me go… please, please… let me go Go back to the flame, the only home you know Ages to ashes, dusk to dust Churches to chimneys, love to lust When you’re crying in the shadow of love Is it matter-out-of-place What secrets vanish for the human race When you’re crying in the shadow of love?