The Antelope
Written: 1985
Released: 2005 on 'Mr Jeays'
She dusts where there is no more dust
He smokes the pipe that
doesn't glow
She's seen his mettle turn to rust
He's
watched her lovers come and go
And on the wall I've watched them
both
Since their safari honeymoon
I am the symbol of
their love
An antelope who died too soon
And I
could almost cry for them
But I have only glass for
eyes
Just like their's when they were lovers
The day
they took me by surprise
Their lives have grown so very
late
They've lost the strength to slam the door
And if
she still might try to hate
He doesn't notice
anymore
And he goes out when she comes in
And he stays
in when she goes out
And if their marriage stays
within
Their promises have gone without
And I
could almost scream for them
But now my mouth is dry and
parched
Just like their's when they were lovers
The
day they shot me in the heart
And all along the
mantlepiece
Their memories have overgrown
The days
together spent in bliss
Together now they're all
alone
They've beaten love into defeat
Across this
battleweary floor
With separate beds for their
retreat
And silence for their spoils of war
And I
could almost pray for them
But now I need no Gods for
hope
Just like them when they were lovers
The day they
killed this antelope
They shot me dead and took my
head
And stuck me to this wall with glue
To think I
could have run from them
But my love I was watching
you
© Philip Jeays 1985