When The Stars Die

Look at the gardener Look at the gardener By the tower The flowers die around him He doesn't even have to move He is mortal ash in muddy boots Every mother's a liar Naming a newborn baby fatal He and her and we play the same game In this screenplay scripted, umbilical clipped the wings of birds that are too old to fly And as the child cries - we'll weep The gardener's flowers - won't keep Mourn themselves under - how deep? And if the star's die? We'll see And now to our gardener He'll die, maybe before he's old A bouquet of marigolds for his mistress Atop her tower; he's never even seen her Everywhere I look Ageing bites Seasons change into winter nights Flowerbeds to caskets Who asked for this? Steal my sight, dig up my roots, I'll barter life for muddy boots Who then is left now - to weep? (And when the stars die) The gardener never climbed his tower, much too steep We are all born then to repeat One gardener dies, one baby bleats Rack 'em up, rack 'em up, rack 'em up The largest tally you will never see So, who asked for this? Who asked for this? An infinite list of things to miss What is the feeling of lips parting to forget a kiss? What's the use in starting, if never to finish? Wish upon a star that's not even there I'll stare at you, buy you wedding rings But to God go God's things You end as you begin So here are we You're swimming in a peopled sea To be or not to be Was never a question (Answer the question) Oh no So no answer? Then how do you expect me to be happy? Remember what you've got remember you'll forget those memories All we have is loss (Ripples always fade, so traces of my face never remain) Your firstborn's teeth, an urn, and a coin to toss Even the stars (You are a star) (Isaiah 13:10) (Psalm 19) (Amen) They'll be gone some day And when the stars die And when the stars die Don't tell me And when the stars die Don't tell me And when the stars die Don't tell me And when the stars die