Peter Hammill

What's it Worth?

Peter Hammill


What's it worth to be safe? 
What's the way to be sane? 
I can throw myself at the garden 
on my hands, 
prune the lawn and mow the roses, 
but I never understand 
how to go 
to be free; 
in the end I only want to be me. 
Winter days here are mine; 
still, no bites...what's my line? 
I could hurl myself to the bonfire 
with all verve, 
clear the path and weed the dead leaves, 
but I really just don't have the nerve 
to be part 
of that scene... 
is this just some kind of strange dream? 

Think I'll walk to the steeple, where the people 
are so inquisitive. 
I could make it to the corner store and buy 
a hoard of derivatives 
now. 

Which way now...climb or coast? 
Will my eggs ever poach? 
I could throw myself in the frying pan 
for my name; 
hit the road or smile hermetically, 
but it's really never quite the same: 
every time a subtle twist. 
I think I'll grab my plot 
and simply exist. 

Or would that be 
a subtle slash at my wrists?