Whispers

The white noise of whispers As I stand on the landing Quickly dissipates As I enter the room I'm still of good standing In this town But only superficially The harps and the gossips Will make a pariah out of me Wait and see A dim view of sinners Is forged in hypocrisy And first-stone casters are Thin on the ground around here Who're you fooling? No one in the clerisy Canaan was blamed for the wrongs Of a generation gone A reputation hard-won Handed down to the son Close your ears. Guard your mind False rumours propagating Down the line Intervening never changes minds People believe in stories they are already inclined to The smallest minded will find Room to impugn you And social circles expand When there's scandalous news The jury is communing In the back room They will decide the fate of me A silent verdict I'll nonetheless fall under And the whispering and the wonder Close your ears. Guard your mind False rumours propagating Down the line Intervening never changes minds. People believe in stories they are already inclined to