the beast in the jungle
well, the first time we met you were twenty-five and i was twenty
and heroic acts were really not your scene
you didn’t rescue a bag grabbed from me in naples
there wasn’t a time when you saved me out at sea
but you said: i’ll be overwhelmed by something rare and strange
vanity can make memory a very good one
so i still recall the predicament you shared
you took me into your confidence and i’ve been stuck there ever since
you were afraid so i stayed and sat and stared
as you said: i’ll be overwhelmed by something rare and strange
the beast in the jungle may or may not get you
but the fear of it almost certainly will do
and if the fear of the beast in the jungle doesn’t get you
regret will
regret will
regret will
as you say: i’ll be overwhelmed by something rare and strange
it could be quite profound
or something quite mundane
an act of violence or an act of love
i kept your counsel well
but nothing happened
still you occupied the best years of my life
i helped you to pass for a human being
i helped you to pass like any other
i helped you to pass
we’ve spent our days
in idle ways
in waiting for your fear to come to pass
now i’m growing ill
and it will be cruel
not to live to see your worst fear come to pass