James Ensor Redeemed

They came down for a reckoning
They came down for the feast
They came in the first, full flush of youth
To the cold and mordant east
They came down for a reckoning
They came in from the heat
They came down in the flush of youth

Most days we get more or less what we desire
Skeletons try to warm themselves by the fire
Around a simple spark, masses gather
Troy, redeemed, in straw, silk and leather

They came up from the coastline
Devoured by their host
Knelt down in the oil sands
Lashed themselves to a post

Poets should neither be given money, nor money take from
An interest in the baser things never does become them
A song is a pencil sketch
A story is an ikon in chrome
A novel is a moral carved into a grave
Myth is stone in silicon

These days are not more nor less than we desire
Skeletons try to warm themselves by the fire
It's such a simple spark, but masses gather
For Troy, redeemed, in straw, silk and leather

Most days we're not more nor less than we desire
Skeletons try to warm themselves by the fire
Around a simple spark, masses gather
Troy, redeemed, in straw, silk and leather