Closing My Determined Eyes

In my seemingly never ending quest for love
I found that you must let it find you
So I stood still and it came to me
It had been there all this time
Funny the things that you miss
When you have such determined eyes



-Derek del Barrio

I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed by this.
I accosted the man.
"It is futile," I said,
"You can never--"

"You lie," he cried,
And ran on.



-Stephen Crane

The Prayer of the Children

Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light.
Crying, "Jesus help me to see the morning light
Of one more day. But if I should die before I wake
I pray my soul to take?"

Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to
But hope for a better day, a better day.
Crying "Jesus help me to feel the love again!
Give me loving arms away from harm."

Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading, for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate.
Blood of the innocent on their hands.
Crying, "Jesus! Help me to feel the sun again
Upon my face. For when darkness clears
I know you're near, bringing peace again."

Dali cujete sve djecje molitve?

-Kurt Bestor

The Stranger

From the moment I said I was fine,
Somehow you knew I was lying.
One friend could be told.
Now if they ask you where I've been, tell them you don't know.

I've been to the stranger.

Have you ever been afraid?
Then waited for years to know the price that you paid.
I can tell you what relief is;
I can tell you what it is to be torn to pieces.

I've been to the stranger.
You don't ask his name.
He is your deliverance.
He is your shame.

His hands are gentile
His hands are clean
Wrapped around his blessed
Goddamned machine

I've been to the stranger.

So you hold your breath and you choose
From the moment they give you the news
Then you erase as fast as you can
The place and the face of the medicine man

I call him the stranger. I've been to the stranger.
Now if they ask you where I've been
Tell them you don't know.


-Kat Eggleston