The Poetry Of
Mark Elsis
PART II
The earth has cancer
We can't let grow
And I've got the answer
But don't we all know
We need to get together
To live as one
Share the earth forever
With the energy of the sun
And it's not too late
But we must start now
If not our fate
You will allow
So please understand
We have to stop the hate
And live in a land
Loving your fellow mate
Where pollution is no more
And hunger does not exist
Cause population had a law
Enabling all of this
And it's not too late
But we must start now
If not our fate
You will allow
So wake up to all the wrong
And see the light
Don't let the manipulating strong
Take away what's right
Cause their foresight is blind
In living for today
Their contracts were signed
With no need for delay
We're living in confused times
We're on that fine line
We're hanging by a thread
Always increasing crime
But you and yours are fine
Still struggling to stay ahead
The competitions rough
But your hard nosed and tough
Yet you sink like lead
You don't know what to do
They've gotten the best of you
Believing the lies you've read
The plot is thickening
The stage is set
A rude awakening
Is a safe bet
Cause the time has come
When chaos must end
And realize that some
Are selling a terminal trend
Who don't give a sh t
Or a care for tomorrow
As long they hit
Home with no sorrow
Just 100 years ago
We were still on horses
Little did we know
The industrial age losses
Would wipe us out
Cause we could not control
No technological doubt
Just infants being bold
Dreams that I have
In hope of change
Reality that I know
Is despair and strange
Eats at my inside
With time running out
No place to hide
I no longer doubt
Our words are drowned
By lies and deception
Our dreams are grounded
Without detection
Censored news
No right to choose
Programmed well
With their hard sell
How much are they hiding
How much don't you know
Don't take for granted their abiding
Cover ups seldom show
Cause money changes views
The truth bought and sold
So me and you always lose
Just accepting what's being told
Well I've heard enough lies
Political promises never materialize
Filthy greed cleverly tries
Power struggles to want more size
Like a rollercoaster
In the first car
It feels the best
So where do you go
From there
When you see the end
Before the rest
Given a paradise
That's ours to run
So whatever happens
It's what we've done
We have all we need
In order to evolve
But if we're going to succeed
Dire problems we must solve
So face this reality
Our choice is here and now
The key to our mortality
Rests forever with our decision how
You think it's lies
But it's the truth
There's no disguise
Were living proof
So realize now
How bad its got
And understand how
There's still a shot
To save the earth
From the modern way
That strips its worth
Only concerned with today
The change must come
From you and me
Stop living on the run
And then you'll see
The pace we've kept
Would kill us all
And already we've slept
Our backs are to the wall
We take for granted
All too much
Our news is slanted
We're out of touch
Bred to compete
For the almighty dollar
A sucker to beat
They're born every hour
Pollute the water
Pollute the air
Shoot the mortar
Cause it's there
Radiation leaking
You don't know
Nerve gas seeping
Let it flow
A million a minute
But you want more
To make killing arms
To die in a war
Ignorant innocence
Blind ambition
You've lost your way
Final submission
Rape the earth
Suck the blood
Take the worth
Lick the mud
If it ain't nailed down
They'll take it
They found the hammer
And did
Optimism we need
Instead of the greed
Hope is the seed
If we want to lead
This world of chaos
To one of love
We hold the key
Within ourselves
To open and see
The path that tells
Which road to walk
To find our peace
Unplug the cork
Let conformed realities cease
Scared of the unknown
Or never thought to try
Material possession grown
Leaves you wondering why
Contentment rarely comes
Or worries never go
Emptiness anxiety runs
Until its let go
Why are we here
What is it all about
Each day there's a new fear
Always living in doubt
Cause tomorrow may not come
And today may be the end
Through the selfishness of some
Who will break before they bend
And day after day
We let it go by
Living it their way
Too lazy to try
While deep down you know
It's going from bad to worse
As the mounting problems grow
Like a balloon ready to burst
So don't hide what you feel
Cause this is the last call
And I'm telling you for real
Together we can avoid the fall
And make a new world
The way it should be
One government for all
United and free
To carry on forever
In tune with nature
Knowing that together
We can make it real
How long are you going to take it
How can you just sit back
How long are you going to fake it
Before you get on the right track
We're living real high
We're stripping the land
I don't know why
We let it get out of hand
So take a realistic view
You'll see it can't go on
We need an optimistic new
Or certain death from the great con
Survival is the basic instinct
Yet we're burning out so fast
Suicide will make us extinct
The raping of nature won't last
So how long are you going to be fooled
By the great con being played
How long are you going to be ruled
Blinded by the money you're being paid
Listen to reason
I beg of you
The final treason
Is up to you
Listen to reason
I beg of you
The final treason
Is up to you
The preachers are preaching
It's almost the end
The dreamers are dreaming
Of a planet earth when
The masses aren't apathetic
Drugged just getting by
The situations pathetic
So why give it a try
The situation is useless
We hold no hope
Our ways can't be changed
We're at the end of our rope
This way of thinking
Is where the problem lies
Negative attitudes are sinking
Too afraid to try
We fear our destruction
Yet guilty of apathy
Free will our instruction
While time dwindles rapidly
The signs are all over
But you choose to ignore them
Can't face up to reality
Scared of the day when
Our greed catches up
And there's no avoiding
Cause we're self destructing
And not even caring
What I'm saying is
We've got the choice
What I'm hoping is
You hear my voice
And become aware
Before it's too late
We all must care
Cause it's all our fate
There's only one way
We'll make it through
You got to realize today
What you already knew
Open your eyes
And see where you are blind
We're ruining the earth
And all of mankind
Control population
And turn to the sun
Love your fellow man
And throw away the gun
Stop the pollution
Before it's too late
Feed the hungry
Before they learn to hate
Living for today
At tomorrow's expense
Letting them rule us
Like we had no sense
We got to get together
And change the world
Drugs here
Drugs there
There's always something
To rid your care
It never stops
It's always there
A constant crutch
From the burden you share
Keep us down
Drug us all
Not a sound
Until the fall
F ck it all
Cause you don't care
You've given up
You've dropped your share
Sold out to drugs
Your everyday fix
Easing your mind
Of the everyday tricks
You can sit back
And let it go on
Take a kick back
And fall for the con
Look the other way
Hear but don't listen
All I'm trying to say
Is common sense is missing
How can we let
Ourselves be fooled
Why don't we get
Our energies pooled
Together to better
And stop being ruled
By corrupt politicians
Leading us down
Lose your inhibitions
And gather around
For unity is strength
And strength we need
To shorten the length
Between poverty and greed
To stop the pollution
And worldwide hunger
There's an easy solution
That you've sometimes wondered
If we all get together
Throughout the world
We could live forever
The way you know it should be
You wake up each morning
With only bad news to hear
So I write you these words of warning
To let you know of my fear
We're letting it get out of control
We're losing our grip
We're selling our very soul
We're aboard a sinking ship
We're using our advances wrong
We destroy but not grow
We're not going to be around very long
If we don't change the show
Cause this is all our earth
So we must live as one
And not strip its worth
So realize now or we're done
Sometimes I wish
I didn't know what I knew
Sometimes I wish
I didn't care but I do
And it hurts to see
The apathy around
Everybody out for me
Well I think we're bound
For self destruction
Unless there's to be found
The logical deduction
Of caring now
For preservation but
I don't see how
With the road were choosing
Industrialed ruin
Is where we're headed
Industrailed ruin
With workers imbedded
Industrialed ruin
Our paradise lost
Industrialed ruin
We'll pay the cost
Industrialed ruin
You don't care
Industrialed ruin
We're almost there
Industrialed ruin
Live for today
Industrialed ruin
Blinded to the way
It was meant to be
We're on the threshold
We're at the fork
We're at the point
Which road to walk
Destiny is ours
In what we choose
Everything rides
It's either win or lose
The stakes are high
It's the last chance
To either live or die
It's in our hands
The change we need
Is plain to see
No more greed
And then we'll be
Working together
For the future
Rest assured
We carry on
Impossible odds
Is what we're facing
A world of hate
Till the end we're racing
Building our weapons
When people are starving
Fighting over our paradise
When only harmony will save us
We can talk about it
And talk about it
But who really gives a sh t
We can scream about it
We can yell about it
But still they won't quit
Stealing what they think is theirs
Raping the earth and selling the shares
And everyday I ask but no one cares
Conditioned in their way it just ain't fair
So little we know
But we don't care
Let ignorance grow
And leave us bare
Living beyond our means
Busting at our seams
Yet still we want more
Playing do or die
The excitement of the try
Will soon kill us for sure
Poetic insight
Easily ignored
Nuclear madness
Taxed and adored
Apathetic extinction
Terminal trend
Survival instinction
Preservation's end
We've advanced so far
In too few years
The masses in a jar
Not knowing the fears
They're playing with fire
Like babies with a match
Always shooting for higher
When they don't know the catch
We've got to slow down
And play it safe
Put our feet on the ground
Before it's too late
One button and it's gone
No time to blink
They couldn't back down
No time to think
We let it go on
It's all our fault
Look the other way
Or try and bring a halt
Don't you see
Or are you blind
The end is near
But you can't find
A reason to believe
A word I say
Cause you've been deceived
In the worst way
Surpressed to do
What they want you to
Most of us know
Our civilization could end
But not many show
Any concern to lend
Scared of the truth
You don't want to believe
Cornered in your booth
It's only yourself you deceive
Let's fight for survival
While there's still a chance
Only a worldwide revival
Peaceably showing our stance
Could lead us away
From the certain destruction
The rulers of today
Are killing us by corruption
I drove down to the ocean
That cold and windy night
I walked along the beach
Until it was nearly light
I thought about so much
Watching the waves and stars
I just wanted to reach out and touch
And thank for what is ours
So much to gain
So much to lose
Evolution in vain
You've got to choose
We waste so much
We let it go by
We're so out of touch
Cause we don't even try
To live in this world
And share its beauty
Or look for the future
Perpetuation is our duty
Realize it or don't want to
But it's only getting worse
And the longer you ignore it
Right wrong
Wrong right
My fault
Your Fault
Blinded by sight
There is no answer
No right or wrong
Just
Be here now
Be your best
Resonate love
The Illusions we choose
Are up to us
The dreams we lose
We never did trust
Too ingrained to change
The sustainable limits have past
Time for order to rearrange
Checks and balances brutally fast
Are we scared
Because we don't know
Are we paired
So conflict will grow
Are we bred
To learn to conform
Are we led
To kill and mourn
Will life cease
Because of greed
Or will peace
Somehow succeed
It's up to you
It's up to me
To change ourselves
To somehow see
We've got the choice
And I think it's time
To show our voice
Cause it's such a crime
Living and knowing
Of all the wrong
Yet never even showing
What we feel so strong
So let's not sit back
And just let it go by
Cause we're on the wrong track
Headed for an early good-bye
So get up an say
That we need a switch
We want a new way
We want it real quick
They're ruining it all
They're ruining it fast
Making me hope each day
That it won't be my last
With their pollution and guns
And their greed and neglect
Nuclear power when we have the sun
And all their drugs to keep us wrecked
Don't you see through it
They're just out for today
They couldn't give a sh t
About doing it the right way
So let's not sit back
And just let it go by
Finally realizing too late
And wanting another try
Childhood fun
Innocent smiling
Adulthood run
Competitive lying
Brought up to believe
That we are right
Apple pie and Chevrolet
And wars are to fight
Only to realize
How much is wrong
How so few surpress
The many so strong
Reality seems to be escaping
Through the black hole in space
Getting lost in a sea of confusion
Walking around with the human race
Addicted to this
Addicted to that
Building the bridges
With the bricks you subtract
All out of focus
You live your lives
Them feeding you nonsense
And imprisoned in strife
Bad to worse
It will only get
Destruction's doorstep
If the population we let
Windy spring day
New life all around
Golden sun ray
Is lost and found
Raw beauty nature
You always astound
Swaying trees moving clouds
Birds chirping their glorious sound
The words use to come together
With the greatest of ease
I thought it would last forever
Until one day when the pen in my hand did freeze
Not a clever phrase it would write
I did not know what was wrong
Emptiness and anguish I was not whole
Bitterness and self doubt took their toll
Now three years have past
But during my drought I've asked
Friends and strangers for answers
It's just a phase it won't last
My poems were to awaken all humankind
To open our souls and help us find
A new understanding while there's still time
For our raping of nature is the last crime
Sunset with the waves
Rhythmically Pounding
Motionless absorbing
Everything that is
The laughter and joy
The pain and sorrow
The still innocent little boy
Learning how to hate for tomorrow
Knowing too much
But able to do so little
Suspended on a crutch
Perplexed in the riddle
Don't know the right road
But I know we're on the wrong road
Oh I feel a heavy load
To stop the truth that's been sold
Apathy in a stalemate
Killing on a corner
The powers that teach to hate
The words I write to warn ya
I'm home from the Ritz
And still thinking of you
Whether it's lust or kicks
I only wish I knew
But I love the feeling
And have to see you again
Cause the attraction your dealing
Makes me want a winning hand
From your purple clothes
To your three earring ear lobe
And your deep golden skin
You've caught my eye
And something keeps telling me
Not to let you slip by
So I'm writing these words
To grab your attention
Tell you of my feelings
To convey my affection
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"When the aimless blade of science slashed the pearly gates"
From Thrasher By Neil Young
GO IN PEACE