PLAYER IN THE WAY

(written July 1984)

touch their eyes, player

let them see the truth

watch their mouths

to see they understand

stand up there and wave

draw their full attention

be jealous, player

grab them 'til they have no choice

they want to pay for pain or pleasure

make them wait in line

tell them what they think they want

then give them what you have

stand in front now, player

they're already watching you

they would chase you if you ran

you lead them either way

you die at either end

player, tell the people what you know

what they don't yet understand

what words have made seem obvious

as though the truth was simple

yet when the time comes to decide

all the choices trip them up and so a player acts it out

showing how its done but not quite why

player, you are different

what you say and do is new

people are surprised to hear this news

and shocked to watch you act it out

the others never bled before

the others never died like that

but that was then, not now

not after one man died and lived like God.

you're the player now

they're watching you

words are not enough for them

there's too much noise to hear them

not that they matter

you have a new priority

its in the script

this new play starts with death

what you play has been done before

but always by somebody else

this time, the act is yours

your play starts with death ...

that's where life comes in.