The Ballad of Richard Burton

The sky is a coal and the sun has gone gray
And time is undiscussed
The stars that are comforts for weariness
Are overwhelmed with dust
        And Burton stands as old as time
        Dead horses haunt him for a crime
        He contemplated past his prime
His voice is cracking  
brittle as a crust
Do not forget me  
though I know you must

The nobles approach with a threatening glee
But Burton turns to pray
Though his best friend begged the Deity
To end his life this day
        He prays for life but doesn't run
        When he finds out God's only son
        Answers petitions one by one
His eyes reflecting  
whimsical disgust
Do not forget me  
though I know you must

He won his wife from a suitor host
But love's a two-edged sword
Her father got him his teaching post
And she got the award
        His blue-haired boy is never born
        And even though his heart is torn
        He has the courage left to warn:
When love becomes the  
darker side of lust
Do not forget me  
though I know you must

The wall sits high and the price has been paid
So Burton leads her through
But Smiley's made sure that the payment was made
For only half of two
        Still Burton reaches down to stake
        His life for one he can't forsake
        Whispering as his fingers shake:
Life has its justice  
ah, but only just
Do not forget me  
though I know you must

And he junks his tarnished blade and frets
That glory too can rust
And he knows that the memories he forgets
Are all that he can trust:
        Make me an eagle!  Make me a star!
        Make me a drink or I’ll trash the bar!
        And if you remember, wherever you are
Plant me a wet rose  
on a beach of dust
Do not forget me  
though I know you must

Copyright 2011 Matthew J Wells