Forsooth, I thought a guard I was,
Beyond my means no challenger
But challenged by a questing mob,
With bricks and shards in ready hands,
To break me under heavy load
And cast me to the vicious teeth
Of dogs with mange and curling lips,
I break and leap from parapet
To fall upon the rocks of hope,
And gulls, they feast instead of hounds
Clad in the hues of gold and black,
Or so I thought, 'fore push (damned push!)
Came unto shove and painted me
Not gold, but yellow. "Heartless wretch!
You fail to guard from fallen-ness!"
What of my past? Of twenty-three
Who fell beneath courageous sword
And rose no more to threaten ye,
Does that not count? "Nay, verily!
Hast failed this once, your failure lasts."
Break, break, you fool! Now hope no more
For faith and courage lose their joy
And thankless life you treasured once
Now turns to dust before the horde
"The fraud holds watch! He let them in!"
Let what? The rumours? Poisoned tongues?
I speak the truth, but lies ye hold
Inside embittered hearts. Unseen,
The joyous song now turns to dust,
I break my heart upon a dream.
