Thought and Memory (Hollow Echo)

You didn’t miss the school play, you counted overtime pay. You weren’t there to spin the tales, just listening to jet engines wail. Thought circles slow, on thermals of blame, A vulture now, whispering my given name. Memory’s perched on a dead branch, see? Holding the ticket stub from his first victory. I gave the order. I sent them from the tree. Now all they bring is what’s left of me. They’re just the black-throated shriek, Beaks tap-tap-tapping the hollow of my cheek. Rippin' the rot, not planting the seed. Just a review of every damned misdeed. Chorus REPORT! REPORT! COME TO MY HAND! CARRY THE SAND FROM THE BROKEN LAND! THOUGHT, WHERE’S THE FUTURE? MEMORY, THE COST? I AM THE HOLY-GOD-DAMNED BRIDGE THAT YOU CROSSED! MY SIT OF WISDOM’S A CHARRED OAK THRONE— NOTHING BUT BONE AND STATIC AND STONE! HOLLOW ECHO! HOLLOW ECHO! NOTHING RETURNS BUT THE SHADOW I’M IN! Muninn, show me the face of the boy at the door. Memory provides: The exact shade of fear I chose to ignore. Huginn, tell me the lie I told best. Thought provides: “Soon.” The word I carved into my chest. They do their duty. They make the haul. I am the one who hacked out my own eye in that hall. They peck the scraps left in the palm. I am the peace that frayed into the psalm. Chorus Good birds. Good birds. Go back out. Go back out. Bring me… bring me… …nothing.