You told yourself you could do this without them br If you had their help it would undo the purpose br Recused yourself from the argument at hand br And folded into quietness there br br You proceeded to suffer for a time br At your hunger and your loneliness br At the nothing there that swallowed you like a bug br And weeping nights from leaving them behind br br You shut up like a foreclosed house br So never told a lie to those you loved br And never craved attention like a clown br So never disappointed or betrayed br br So performed worthy work and set it br As an offering on the shelf of the world br So it was what it wanted to be br Clean and honest as a plank br br Now when you think of them br It is no longer as temptation br Or the music of their laughter br Or the grasp of their embrace br br But of the goodwill they bore you br Like a promise you would never meet again br Yet carry one another by the heart br Like a lantern that never goes outbr br Mike Finleybr br