Another Country

'Her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.'

How clean the air was how hollow chimed the bells
Like dolorous voices that creep through the walls of a penitent's cell
How green the elm field how bittersweet the smell
That was caught with the wind in the branches and mixed with the rain as it fell
I should have stayed beside that railway still
Counting the sleepers and watching the crows in the neighbouring field
Nor call to worship heed for promise unfulfilled
Leaving only the witless to answer their fitful appeal

Such roles for their heroes the storytellers cast
Perseus battles with snake-haired Medusa and triumphs at last
But not so Josephine she sleeps alone
For Bonaparte sleeps with his army tonight and may never come home
But it's no hero stands you now before
Counting his rosary casting his eyes to the floor
No sirens call me now from passing island shores
And you can take these winged sandals I don't want to fly anymore

The ship is slowly sinking the iceberg gently thaws
With the last survivors battered I walked hand in hand to shore
And there's nothing left to show what's gone before
But I've had my fill of trouble and I don't want anymore

I saw another country I sought to make my own
But somewhere west of second best the seeds of doubt were sown
And turning let the harvest call me home

Hot through Troy's ruin Menelaus rode
Through the clashing of arms and the flashing of fires to the palace he strode
What queen to see what prophecy foretold
What thirst to be quenched with a whisper what hunger a decade postponed
High sat white Helen comely and revered
She coldly looked down at the dust on his brow and the sweat in his beard
How come you hero she snickered and she sneered
And the snap of her tongue was as lethal and sharp as a spear

The ship is slowly sinking the iceberg gently thaws
With the last survivors battered I walked hand in hand to shore
And there's nothing left to show what's gone before
There's no face at the window
And no one's beating pathways to your door
I've had my fill of trouble and I don't want anymore