Damas Indóceis e Cavalheiros Galantes

Song For The Wounded
(Para Natércia P.)

I had a thousand names on this list,
My men, dead and wounded,
Living at the shadow of your name,
Blinded by your golden basking glory.
You could say it was worth it -
But I can't.

They were just stand-ins, hun?
Just small, faceless
background figures.
Never got a part here.
People that will only be recognized
By tattoos and dental records,
Extras in a movie no one will see.
I had a thousand names on this list.

Each one,
Every single one,
Is gone.

We're grasping for air in the bowels
of this ship,
this sinking ship.
The band quitted playing.
They are all safe, bless their hearts,
They are all safe, damn their eyes.

"Load in the diseased,
Load in the old man's sheep."

We're going on a voyage.

J.