Temporary

I met a man
 Who spent his life
 Begging
 For a dime and five
 On every avenue
 But I never knew
 He'd see the world
 With better eyes
 He'd laugh at our
 Earthly lies
 He stared and asked
 "Boy, is that you?"
 He knew my name
 He knew my shame
 He said
 "Boy don't you dare to blame
 yourself for this, Don't you know
 That it's all temporary,
 You, your face
 And the pain,
 It's all temporary,
 My mind is cold
 And vain"
 I wonder what daddy felt
 When he said his last words,
 What colors did he see
 As he left this ugly world
 Did he hang on to a breath
 Did he fight for his life
 Did he think of the kids
 Did he smile for his wife?
 His son will never
 Ever learn
 That the light of
 The fire burns
 Upon a touch
 That love is too much...
 He'll be straying
 Left and right
 Wondering where
 To spend the night
 His stranger heart
 Is torn apart
 But it's all temporary
 You, your face
 And the pain
 It's all temporary
 My mind is cold
 And vain.
 I looked art in the eyes; I embraced her, read her,
 played her strings...
 The lunatic, the mad, the insane...
 I am.
 I want the whole universe to know that
 The story begins...