Josiah Leming

Paper Houses

Josiah Leming


paper houses line the streets
the streets create a town
towns grow into armies
armies shoot you down
while the same humdrum that beats the drums
compels you look around
in time to see your paper houses
burning to the ground

baby, there's no light at the end of the tunnel

glassy beaches hold the seas
the seas they flood the world
the world, she sinks in slowly
leaves nothing but a pearl
it fills a bag that slowly drags
behind a crying girl
barefoot striding glassy beaches
give to waves unfurled

and she won't sleep for fear
and baby, there's no light at the end of the tunnel

hopes they fall like broken glass
into my overburdened lap
i find myself now wishing in 
from the outside of the glass
papercuts they split the sea
to dry the sands that freedom bring
you and i we'll never see
the land of which we dream

we don't sleep for fear
and bay-ay-by
there's no light at the end of the tunnel