Tear for a Song

There once was a man whose fingers were stained
With anger and hatred and dark in his veins
He couldn’t quite keep his good will at the reins
And happy was subtle as breathing

Knowing the burdens and what was at stake
He hid in the shadows for everyone’s sake
Not pausing to ponder, ’cause what’s a mistake?
A tissue for people left grieving

He ran away, thought he could build a new face
And find a new name in an uncertain place
Hoping he’d disappear without a trace
Fallen alone with eyes beaming

Always afraid that he’d lose his control
He kept to the quiet and wrapped up his soul
But breaking reflections can take quite a toll
More than most others are seeing

The outcome, he should have seen from the start
As even the best masks will shatter apart
At the touch of some pity from a few bleeding hearts
He knew it was time for the leaving

Soon he would find it was too late for that
As some nights he’d jump at the drop of a hat
And some days he’d wonder just where he was at
What all this contempt was achieving

All the while fighting the feel from the past:
A girl in the rain even now unsurpassed
Can emotion beat out his will at the last?
I’m not sure whom to believe in.

But there is no reason for thinking that deft
His image of her is just all that is left
Or ever appeared of this imagined theft
Distractions he can’t help conceiving

It’s funny how quiet our secrets can keep
When they’re shaking, all torn up, and near half-asleep
The price of revealing can be rather steep
But I’m tired of all this deceiving

I won’t say that it’s right, who can say that it’s wrong?
Regretting’s just trading a tear for a song
I’ve got worries much worse than: but will it last long?
And they’re much better uses for dreaming