I
Two men were sitting in a dark quiet room
figuring out their lives,
coming to no conclusion.
One said, I want to rule the earth.
Other said, I want to limit birth.
One said, I need a thousand wives.
Other, turning on the lights,
said, Brother, you’re my enemy.
One took out a gun,
aimed at the other’s head.
Other moved faster, shot him dead;
standing in the room, tired,
said, Now I’m done,
shot himself like he shot the other one.
II
Two men were walking in the middle of the night.
One turned left, other turned right.
One went through hell, sweating like a fool.
Other smelled lilies, in a pool.
One lost his arms grabbing at shadows.
Other kissed girls on their toes.
One lost his face, walking through a wall.
Other lay with ladies great and small.
One met the other waiting at the end.
What did you find, my lucky friend?
Lilies, pools, a thousand wives.
Hell, walls, a thousand knives.
Grinning, they broke each other’s head.
One hadn’t lived, the other was long dead.
III
In the golden old days the twins sat down,
played on lutes while all danced around.
A little later when the earth was proud
they sang to kings while others bowed.
Then came days when the whole earth groaned;
they tinkled like beggars and were stoned.
Came an age of wolves and fools;
one walked hungry, other in jewels.
Camps now are set for the mad and the sane.
They shoulder each other, they are one again.
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