HAMMERTOWN

ARM FLIES UP, WEIGHT COMES DOWN
THAT’S HOW IT GOES IN HAMMERTOWN
ONIONS ROT, SCRUBBY MOUNDS
OUT ON THE EDGE OF HAMMERTOWN
WINDY GIRLS WALK QUICKLY BY
SHUT THEIR EARS WITH SKIP ROPE CHANTS, SQUINT THEIR EYES
FIELDS CONFESS BUT THE GIRLS DON’T HEAR A SOUND
THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY TO HAMMERTOWN

GRASS IS GRAY, SKY IS BROWN
THAT’S HOW IT LOOKS IN HAMMERTOWN
HOUSES WARPED, STREETS UNWOUND
THIS IS THE STATE OF HAMMERTOWN
DUSTY BOYS LIE SLEEPING YET
IN ENGINE DREAMS AND SULFUR SHEETS MOAN AND SWEAT
SUN COMES UP BUT THE BOYS STAY BEDDED DOWN
OUTSIDE SLEEP THERE’S ONLY HAMMERTOWN

BIRDS HAVE GONE, RATS ABOUND
THAT’S HOW IT IS WITH HAMMERTOWN
BUILT A CITY UNDERGROUND
MIRROR OF HUMAN HAMMERTOWN
RUSTING WIDOWS STAY OUT OF SIGHT
EAT ONIONS IN THE MORNING, ONIONS AT NIGHT
SKY WON’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE ANYHOW
IT’S ALWAYS DUSK IN HAMMERTOWN

THERE’S A ROAD THAT LEAVES THIS PLACE
FOUND BY CHANCE FOLLOWED BY GRACE
THERE’S A WIND KNOCKING AT THE WINDOWPANE
AND THE DUST SLOWLY WAKES

WIND PICKS DUST UP OFF THE GROUND
SIGN SAYS YOUR LEAVING HAMMERTOWN
ROAR AND GRIND GROW QUIET NOW
ALL LEFT BEHIND IN HAMMERTOWN
WALK FOR DAYS IN A STRAIGHT LINE
TIME HAS A SHAPE, FLESH HAS A TASTE, SUN IS HIGH
FAIL TO SEE THAT ROAD SIGN NOW AIN’T THAT A PITY
SAYS ONE MILE TO HAMMERCITY

spring 96 new orleans
© 1998 MYSHKIN