BY JAY WELLER
THERE WAS A GIRL NAMED JOSEPHINE
WITH HAIR OF GOLDEN STRANDS
SHE WAS BROUGHT, TO FEED THE QUEEN
THE FINGERS OF HER HAND
THE DRAGONS GUARD THE MEZZANINE
THE DEVIL MAKES DEMANDS
CAUGHT UP IN A BITTER RAIN
THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THIS LAND
THE SLAVES BEND DOWN TO SERVE THE KING
THE MAD CONDUCTOR WAITS
WHY SELL YOUR SOUL FOR PAPER WINGS?
THEY’D RATHER EAT YOU RAW WITH FAVA BEANS
PUPPETS DANCE BY TEATHERED STRINGS
THE CONDUCTOR STRIKES THE BAND
THERE ARE NO HEROES ON TV
BUT SURE, YOU’LL UNDERSTAND
PERHAPS A COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS REMAIN
UNTIL THE ROBOTS BEGIN THEIR FRIGHTFUL REIGN
GO NOW WITH YOUR ROBES FORGOT
LEAVE NOTHING BUT A PILLOW STAIN
THE QUEEN’S LAST WHEEZE, HER REPTILE BRAIN
AN OOZING, LEPROUS BREDDING
HER HEAD THEN WRAPPED IN CELLOPHANE
FROZEN, UNTIL THE ARMEGEDDON