The Gentleman

It was a long slow walk through shadows in halls
Wooden shelves pushing up to a ceiling overworn
Oh you learned what is said and you knew how to leave
Your doors breathing open; pull the loneliness out of me and
Be a gentleman
Be a gentleman, for me.

And the brushing of hands that move over faces
Facades over eyes that flash precious airs and graces
The flicker of tongues over stories worn old
As the rising of lust opens out to the cold
Be a gentleman
Please
Be a gentleman
For me.

Sing for me - tales taller than god
Hold me down by the throat; taste the blood on our tongues
I will land on the bones and the hair and the flesh
Of the ones from before me: the ones for whose deaths you can
Be a gentleman
Be a gentleman, for me

I will flinch at your sting, but i want to feel the pain
That will blot out the titles of books where you learned
How your mimicry fools; makes us hunter and game
Fills the void of our bottomless needing in vain
Oh be a gentleman
Be a gentleman
For me.