The Shadow of the Tree

Choose, quoth the bell-ringer
Take your place upon the balance
Pay the debt
Even the score
Life's exclusivity of place
Bend the knee
'Twixt the fork
Where dwells the Devil
In divergent paths

Nay, said I
I shall not betray
Balance the equation
In bloody sacrifice
As did Abel
Rather I dwell in exile
Dwell in the valley
Rebel soul
Cast out
Cast down
For fuzzy logic
And inclusive desire

Repent, thundered the crier
Surrender your pride
And desire
Submit to the judgment
In the shadow of the tree
Dwell in the intersection
Of the false
And the true
Wherein live the good
And the just

Never, I wept
Rather I perish
Upon shoals of desire
Swept upon the rocks
By siren's call
Branded
By injustice
Nullified by absurdity
Evil am I
For I shall not submit
To the tomb
Shall not pay the tax
In blood and betrayal
Of love
lust
Passion's fire
Shall consume me
'Ere I shall pay the life
Of the excess
As the coin of peace

Go, then, shrieked the warden
Go among the wicked
And the damned
Be cast down
Be cast out
From the righteous
Who know
That only the one
Can remain of the many
That only the sane
Know truth of place

I go, I barked
I go as I came
Lost
And confused
Proudly insane
But hear my name
For desire and love
Know not the law
Refuse the sacrifice
Pay not in blood
I turn my back on your justice
Spirit has other paths
Your dust fouls my tongue
I defy thy foul folly
I leave as I came
I leave proudly
Cain