Stunned & Frozen - Mark Eitzel

Tragedy at the circus

The trapeze artist fell

And the crowd scattered and ran

He got up walking

Had nowhere to go

He was staring at the ground

The rain has passed over

Leaving him high and staring into the river

Like his home was in the frozen water

That’s turning rings around him

Ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing

Stunned and frozen

Stunned and frozen

The streets and trees and the headlights

Are more nails hammering in a coffin

Excuses for boundaries that pull you apart

Coming undone, invisible with fear

The rain has passed over

Leaving him high and staring into the roaring river

Like home was in the frozen water

That’s turning rings around him

Ringing and ringing and ringing and ringing

Stunned and frozen

Stunned and frozen

Some hours after midnight he threw his watch away

Time is thin as a rope

And heavy as thunder

If I get sick like an animal

Giving up the ghost

With thoughts of Christmas and Burl Ives

And no wonder

The rain has passed over

The sky is clear with wind

And I’m a pearl diver

Tell the cops I was looking for pearls in the water

Saying goodbye with nothing to discover

Stunned and frozen

Stunned and frozen

Beautiful Europeans sitting outside drinking desserts

Only a fool carries around the burden of justice

Excuse me, can I sit at your table?

I’m an expert in lifelike impressions

Though I know something is always lost in the translation

The rain has passed over

The sky is clear with wind and I’m a pearl diver

Tell the cops I saw pearls in the water

Saying goodbye with nothing to discover

Stunned and frozen

Stunned and frozen