penance strapped to my ribs   scratches away the negative   clipped like mercury's   wings strapped to my feet      this slow pure starvation   threatens everything i've done      this is not a phase   nothing grows through things like this   waiting for it to pass   polishing brazen mistakes      this slow pure starvation   threatens everything i've become      wait a while   i might be late   i'll wipe that smile   right off your disgrace      the only way to serve is defy   you came first, so first you will die   commit one small high speed crime   the world will breathe a parental sigh      this slow pure starvation   threatens everything we've done      spend long days   with treason   one inch spent   six feet of man went away