Saline Grace A Good Man's Shadow
Down under a cruel
And eastern moon
There is a new tale
From Bordertown
Don't ask Maggie about her damaged face
She knows her garden's malignant trees
And fears the boughs they sometimes raise
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who cuts the boughs with saw and crown
Confidently laughing from upon his throne
Don't ask Maggie about her shrieking voice
She knows her attic's squawking sparrows
And fears their violently raging noise
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who shoots the birds with gun and crown
Mischievously laughing from upon his throne
Don't ask Maggie about her strangled son
She knows her fairy tales and comfort
And fears the truths which sometimes dun
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who loves fairy tales with rope and crown
Contentedly laughing from upon his throne
Don't ask Maggie about that rude car crash
She knows the poor and tragic guy
And fears the day he wants more cash
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who drives his car with bottle and crown
Merrily laughing from upon his throne
Don't ask Maggie about her anxious mother
She knows mum's childhood, that old hat
And fears the questions of her beloved brother
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who kindles the hat with words and crown
Sympathetically laughing from upon his throne
Down under a mad
And eastern moon
Silent years have passed
The river on the edge
The good man's restless bones
Have felt uncomfortable
Clattering and dancing
In a tiny, rotten coffin
Buried in a shallow grave
That swolen hill of soil
So…
Don't ask Maggie about a dead man's shadow
She knows the gossip and her inner truths
And fears the mocking children on the meadow
Maggie deeply loves a good man's shadow
Who haunts in town with sceptre and crown
Terribly laughing from upon his holy throne
