Cash for Covers

My friend hurt himself today
He told me in a song
He told me whilst
A thousand people watching
Sang along

They sang the song back
Word for word
Despite the fact they’d
Never heard
Such words as these
His rawest thoughts
And primal rage
There for everyone
On stage

Enticed by meds
And ill-advised
On heresy
And his demise
A call that brought him
Back from hell
A story that he
Need not tell

So here’s my friend
I am so proud
He speaks to me
(and all the crowd)
He bleeds on stage
As we stand smitten
Hurt as when
The song was written


*


Today I understand the meaning of potential- (noun) the feeling of wanting to put one’s fist through a wall to prove to someone they are not useless.

They have large footprints to fill
The giant is among us

It’s not the money
The constant debate
Of class or income
This I hate,
Excuses

It’s not their fault
They’re on the dole
(Their homework in the
Goldfish bowl)
You cannot issue
medication
Just a dose
Of inspiration

The giant is among us

And watching down
Writing their lives
Every movement
Every sound
What I’d do
To see them look around
And understand
They shouldn’t sing
themes from the score
Giants composed
For them for years before.

The giant is among us.

The choir chants
And fills the hearse
Before the opus’
Final verse
I stand and watch
What could have been
The most enthralling
Symphony
Crash and burn
In front of me

And so ends
the final note
Of plainsong
In a life remote
The giant need not be among us
His work here is done


Daniel Fenton