Be a Person

Here is a sound
Can you hear it?
Here is a feeling
Can you wear it?
Here is emotion
Can I share it?
And here is devotion
Should I keep it?

Where are my hands
Can you see them?
Where are my tears
Did you drink them?
Can you understand
Why I'm dying?
Where are my fears
Now I need them?

Who was that man
In the darkness?
Who gave that man
Warmth and shelter?
Who said out loud
That I love you?
And who stood out proud
And was falling?

Which path to take
Which to not take?
Which mistake to make
And sink under?
Which dice to throw
Does it matter?
I never know
If I love you.

How can a diamond
Be so ugly?
And how can a man
Be so unkind?
How did you know
I was listening?
Look at the snow
As it's glistening.

There was a time
When I slept well.
Now I can't find
Warmth and shelter.
Each time I cry
No-one's hearing.
Now I will die
For the weekend.

This little pig
Went to market,
This little pig
Stayed at home.
How can it be
That I'm coughing
When I'm supposed to be
The one that's laughing?

For every time
That I see you
I wish that I
Could deceive you.
Now I can see
I was waiting
For you to say
Can I go now.

Out in the park
Trees are swaying.
Here in the dark
I am saying,
"Why must I always
Be alarming."
You say you find it
Often charming.

Here on my lap
Is a postcard
Of a wide open beach,
It's from Marty.
He said the weather
Isn't that bad.
I wish I could
Be a swimmer.


Thirteen times seven
Isn't eighty.
I wish I knew
Why you hate me.
Each time I write
You a letter,
You reply without
Saying thankyou.

My window ledge
Is quite dirty.
I only vacuum
The blue carpets.
Now that my hair
Has been blow-dried,
I cannot go
To a party.

We have all eaten
Well and hearty.
Now I must go
To the toilet.
Coffee is on
Its way, don't fear
We have skimmed milk
And brown sugar.

Violence is
Such a bad thing.
I only kill
What is nothing.
We have no sexual
Inclinations,
But you will find
Us amusing.

Trevor who works
On a bus now
Used to sing songs
At the theatre.
Now when the traffic
Is quite heavy
Policemen are out
Getting stroppy.


Sing me a song
If you would, dear.
I'm going out
To go walking.
Why when the sky
Is a steel grey
Does the pavement beneath
Feel sticky?

Mountains are big
Don't you think so?
The Statue of Liberty
Is in New York.
My socks are from
A well known men's store.
Do you have french toast
For breakfast?

Television is
Quite appalling.
I wish that I
Could stop screaming.
I'd like to wear
Your pyjamas.
I couldn't care
If it rained less.

Chairs can strike quite
Delightful poses.
Life is no
Bed of roses.
Spectacles are
Quite expensive.
I have a space
For an armchair.

People who don't
Ever listen
Are people this world
Can't discipline.
Here in my hands
Is an insect.
I bet that you
Can cook Chinese.


Close both your eyes
And imagine
A shop full of dogs,
Do they bite you?
Sleep is a funny
Way of dancing.
I can only
Be a person.



Birmingham, spring 1987