ONE
Strange life -- I was lost inside it.
Like being tied in a black velvet bag,
Trying to get somewhere.
And seeing nothing, just nothing,
I mean NOTHING out there,
I looked within.
I said, “Alright soul, what do you want me to do here?”
It said, “Live.”
I said, “What kind of a life?”
It said, “Pick one.”
What kinda answer is that?
I see choices written across the sky from Orion to the Dog Stars,
All glittering like California gold,
And you’re telling me I have to be just ONE thing?
You’re out of your mind.
Don’t tell me to pick.
Alright, fine, I’ll pick -- get your pitchfork outta my back.
You keep pushing me somewhere I don’t want to go.
I know what’s down this hall--
It’s a black hole,
Oblivion!
Staring at me like an eye.
At least give me a few choices--
Just a little control!
No?
Well, what can I say,
I don’t have anywhere else to be.
So I’ll go.
TWO
I was shown to a place where the illusion of choice prevails,
Choices bubbling up like soda fizz,
Ringing in my ears like casino coins.
I liked the sound of that,
Kinda got me off.
Lots to see,
Lots to do.
Walked around with my hands in my pockets for awhile, checking it out,
Thinking what I should choose.
There appeared to be two options:
The good and the bad.
And I don’t mind telling you, I naturally incline towards the bad.
I don’t know why,
I like trouble.
Good thing there’s lots of trouble to be had -- you can get it cheap and plenty.
But finally I had my fill of trouble--
Kind of makes you sick after a while--
And after that I only made choices any mother would approve of,
At least for a time.
Meanwhile, that time ran through my fingers like California sand
And nothing happened to me.
Not a thing.
Nothing of any note.
There was nothing, I mean nothing, going on.
Then I got a little bored--I got jumpy.
Couldn’t keep my muscles from twitching.
Seems I was longing for something--
But what?
I kept walking through that palace
Looking for a fix,
Until I came upon a bottle of liquid gold.
I tell you -- it was real gold --
And I knew what it contained:
Trouble with a capital T.
It had a satin ribbon around it
Tied to a little label.
It said, “Drink me.”
And having nothing else to do,
I did.
THREE
I fell a trillion miles, across the universe,
And landed on silk sheets dressed only in my skin and my hair.
I landed flat on my back.
I looked at my arms and my hands and my feet
And I laughed.
“Oh, this is wonderful, too wonderful!” I thought.
“Just look what I’m wearing!”
And I growled and I purred because I was Animal,
I looked back at the stars until they shone in my eyes.
I tossed my long hair.
God, it felt good,
Everything, everything!
So good I closed my eyes.
I forgot about those stars,
I rattled and writhed.
Choices? Who cares about choices?
I’d rather stay here in bed!
There is nothing out there, nothing.
There is nothing, no, nothing but the night!
And there is nothing but the pleasure you can find in it,
One little beast,
At the bottom of a black velvet bag.
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