To See A Friend In Tears

So men are still at war in this land For certain songs and certain dates The tender gave way to the firebrand And Europe gave way to the States So now that money's all but scentless Noses and consciences are clear The pointless flowers can be dispensed with To see a friend in tears So our defeats are just reminders Of death that waits behind it all The body wilts before the mind does Surprised to see how soon it falls It's true our women have deceived us All hunted species disappear It's true we've shot the golden eagles To see a friend in tears It's true our cities are exhausted Made by and for the middle aged Our weakness gave them more than force did We thought that love could cure a toothache And in the underground we're drowning Accelerating through the years You think you'll find the truth by frowning To see a friend in tears It's true our mirrors don't show heroes We lack the courage to be Jews Without the elegance of Africa With our youthful fireworks all defused And all these men who are our brothers Wonder why we don't want to hear How their worst enemies are their lovers To see a friend in tears