In Stature and Favor

We lie to children, when they are young,

for fear that they will be satisfied

We lie to our children because we

have not been satisfied

And we say:
It is in the nature of things to break

But I tell you that nature is not nature

Nature is not nature, no

Nature is not

And we say:

It is not the wanting

but the object

and the wanting is pure

and the object is false

But I say to you

that God is in the bird-shit

and God is in the river

The one who wants is false

and therefore also the wanting

And there is joy in the wreck

and there is fear in the ribbon

and the fear is broken on account

of the break in the man

And we say:

It is well for the young to be quick

and for the young men to quarrel

and die

But I tell you that youth

is the time to be weary, youth

and the end of youth

And if God gives the mercy,

perhaps we will sleep

And if God gives the duty,

perhaps we will wake

And I am writing to you,

young men, because you

have been wearied

and seen the new city

And I am writing to you,

young ladies, because

you have been worried

at the smell of decay

We lie to the old

because we are afraid

that they will not want to die

And old men are dreamers

and they will not be deceived

They will not be unaware

of the stranger

When the divided fire falls on your head,

you will speak and know

and the violence of things will be clear