I Say "No"
Phillip Whitman Elvrum
Some people say
"Arise! Arise! Arise! Live friend live!"
I say: "Die."
I say: "Shade yourself."
I say: "Shine what precious light you have into caves
And when it dies out stay in there"
I say "find life where you foolishly saw graves."
Some people say to "Try and try and try!
Fight and save yourself!"
I say: "Give"
I say "Send them off."
I say "Shed whatever husk if you are ripe
And if you're not, be fragrant then"
I say: "Give. No matter how it hurts, give in!"
Some people say "The sky! The sky! The sky!
Have you noticed it"
I close my eyes, I say nothing now
There's a ringing in my ears that's faint and high
And when I listen close to it, it says: