The Tortured Poets Department. An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time – one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure. This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.
And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.
Waiter send this to the table, the party of one The only other lonely soul in this place And so you’re finishing up your coffee But then where you’re gonna run? Where’d you get that look on your face?
You should always let the sun go down on your anger Let it burn you to sleep Bring it closer to danger To surrender and retreat Sing your sad soul to sleep
I loved you the first time I saw you And you know I love you still But I am tired And I am yours
Don’t even think about your freedom Or taking that flight Or going back upon your promise after fighting for the right Because your eggshells and your right statements And your weaponized words Are paper tigers now
Oh your constant overthinking and your secretive drinking Are making you more and more alone And girl, you can slam the door behind you It ain’t ever gonna close Because when you’re home, you’re already home
I am tired I am tired I don’t wanna go home anymore I don’t wanna throw stones anymore I don’t wanna take part in the war
I loved you the first time I saw you And you know I love you still I loved you the first time I saw you And you know I love you still
I don’t wanna be right anymore Lord, I don’t wanna fight anymore I’m not taking your side anymore I am tired I am not my own And I am leaving Oh, I am tired And I’m coming home
‘Cause I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours I am yours, I am yours, I am yours I am yours, I am yours
Song of the Sea, directed by Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells) features the voices of Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, David Rawle, Lisa Hannigan, Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny. Music is by composer Bruno Coulais and Irish band Kíla, both of whom previously collaborated on The Secret of Kells.
He went to sea for the day He wanted to know what to say When he’s asked what he’d done In the past to someone That he loves endlessly Now she’s gone, so is he
I went to war every morning I lost my way but now I’m following What you said in my arms What I read in the charms That I love durably Now it’s dead and gone and I am free
I went to sleep for the daytime I shut my eyes to the sunshine Turned my head away from the noise Bruise and drip decay of childish toys That I loved arguably All our labouring gone to seed
Went out to play for the evening We wanted to hold onto the feeling On the stretch in the sun And our breathlessness as we run To the beach endlessly As the sun creeps up on the sea