ever more rarely now you join me in the tomb that I guard to shed a tear with me for old times' sake, oh my roadside companion family of all these years through which we were there for each other. but at the end of the day you always return to the homes that you still have of unsevered lives where every hour and every day have not been amputated. you throw stones at me now, bible-loads of them, because I will no longer guard this tomb for all the pay I get is the deadly silence after the daytime crowd is gone, and I soak your popcorn in my tears. we were eight at first, then briefly seven. count me out as well now, for this boat, this house, this no-more tomb, has risen anchors. the doors are open, the river is wide