Death is a steady state,
life is a fleeting image;

Beethoven's Emperor Concerto
with Walter Gieseking
and The Berlin Reichsender Orchestra
under Artur Roter, November 1944 in Berlin,
the anti-aircraft guns thudding outside,
in parallel with Beethoven's situation
when composing the piece
in Vienna 1809,
during Monsieur Bonaparte's siege

Death is a steady state,
the distant roar of the motorway
winding gray bands over our eyes
while engine blocks smoke
with hot blood,
and silent Munch screams well out
of fresh grief

Death is a steady state,
life a waging of wars
and bedroom lockdowns,
as well as the suffering of illnesses
with unheard of names & consequences

I'm cutting down on living
as it is,
but I ain't seen nothing yet,
be-be-be-baby!

Go willy-nilly, go pick-a-dilly!

After thought comes after-thought;
before thinking, be sure you ought;
consider the fights you fought,
each lie that you stupidly bought

Death is a steady state;
it never comes too late;
every mate will meet his fate,
and you; just sit down and wait,
you'll share fate with Sharon Tate