not the same river not the same me

change the lock

so

the loving unknown

what will you find 

when you finally get home

a pile for a pyre

evidence for liars

purity burns 

so soon in the fire

designed to return

the ash to he earth

by the wonders of women

willing to work

at coffee counters

in office buildings

wire tapping the 

bets in from the caymanns 

from the comfort of home

which is another kind of unknown

hymn 101 is still a call to arms

and not wearing a mask

protects the public from harm

not wearing a heart

on anything but sleeves

not afraid to see 

or be seen

in the traditional navy blue

and green

of the last pregnant pause

the withholding clause

that last bit of wind

blown and then

lost

collecting on debts

fifteen years gone

remembering life 

as it once was

but never will be

not the same river

                           not the same me 

you can reach into the past

and find your hand

sheared to the bone