did you see, love died yesterday?

did you see love died
yesterday? –
like an unwanted baby
in the gutter, in the bin
without a whimper
without a moan;
O did you see
love died yesterday?

first we shouted this is mine
that’s yours
and this is us, that’s you
and drew bold black lines
round the earth
and cunning prevailed
over oceans and sky –
O did you see this way,
love died yesterday?

and we instituted
societies
and hierarchies
and had measures
so the many would serve the few
and so love died,
did you see, yesterday?

and we came back from hills
and caves and deserts
and we said: God spoke to me
and this is the Word that is in the Book
and if you disagree, you’re dead meat!
and so we killed one another
but O, it’s love we killed
did you see that
how love died yesterday?

and some grew insane
the inspiration became depravity
and they said God sanctioned killing
God wants blood!
God wants me to kill!
That’s what they say.
O, do you see
love died yesterday?

did you see love died
yesterday? –
like an unwanted baby
in the gutter, in the bin
without a whimper
without a moan;
O did you see
love died yesterday?