| Tension Makes a Tangle |
| [ music: John Lombardo/lyric: Natalie Merchant ] as frail hinges pivot on a case's door commemorative souvenirs from places containers change with each occasion a cellophane encased display of paper certificate to credit years of service a tool of central enterprises the early hope for permanence the words the rings consistency the social security a miracle is high tragedy thought mistaken for a memory clear the dust from smiles in boxes pass a patterned wall recall their voices a local post will list your friends in order of disappearance the lawn scattered tins feed birds a portion baked for absent guests and the mass edition icon God sent comfort your salvation but who grants absolution for sins that never were committed tension makes a tangle of each thought becomes an inconvenience sound as it never penetrates as servile edges break and feint thought mistaken for a memory a dress length assassination a fractured family tie another christening christening christening christening |