The facts

the snakes, the fakes, wrong time, wrong place,
the screams, the whispers, the cries, the whimpers,
the clouds, the shroud, the lost, the found,
the bangs, the cliques, the hits, the miss,
the stones, the glass, the first, the last,
the treasures, to trash, the screech before the crash,
the loose, the tight, the noose, the height,
the key, the lock, the free, the locked,
the slave, the master, disease, disaster,
the kids, the laughter, does any of it matter?
the secrets, the bribes, the fools, the wise,
the mother, the mistress, mistakes, remissions,
nightmares, visions, close your eyes and listen,
a diamond's quiet glisten, in roach infested kitchens,
the sick, the lames, the Ables, the Cains,
the fables, the labels, the deals under tables,
the walk, the talk, the wolves, the flock,
the outlines of chalk, the bottom, the top,
the sweat, the blood, the saved, the hung,
the graves being dug, the rain, the mud,
the martyrs, the peasants, the present, the ancient,
the trials I'm facing, the wanting, the taking,
the stakes, the bets, the x's, the checks,
the life you owe, coming to collect,
cells, prisons, knives, incisions,
terms, conditions, you learn, to live with,
the memories, the plans, full pockets empty hands
the give up, the look up, the push up, the stand,
the liar, the cheater, stolen water's sweeter,
the open, the broken, the loafers, the sneakers,
the subtle, the bold, the blood flows cold,
the plot, the spot, the pop, the rot,
the cops, the pressure, the grilling, the lecture,
the fleeting', the shaken', the breakin', the stretcher,
the weak, the bleak, the creep, the sneak,
so easily betrayed, a kiss on the cheek,
the innocent, the guilt, the clean, the filth,
the safe, the risky, from mother's milk to whiskey,
the needles, the evils, the sparrows, the eagles,
the arrows, the shadows, the gravel, the feeble,
the barrels, the growls, the howls, the gavels,
the blood-soaked towels, gunshots and stab holes,
the man, the leech, the catch, the reach,
the rush, the breech, the grain, the beach,
the faithful, the fickle, the pick-ax, the pistol,
the heartless, the darkness, the reaper, the sickle,
affliction, confliction, conviction, conditions,
resistance, attrition, contrition, remission.