a billion words ago 

the sailors disappeared 

a story for the children 

to rock them back to sleep 



a million burning books 

like torches in our hands 

a fabric of ideals 

to decorate our homes 



a thousand generations 

the soil on which we walk 

a mountain of mistakes 

for us to climb for pleasure 



a hundred clocks are ticking 

the line becomes a circle 

spin the wheel of fortune 

or learn to navigate 



a choir full of longing 

will call our ships to port 

the countless lonely voices 

like whispers in the dark 



a second of reflection can 

take you to the moon 

the slightest hesitation can 

bring you down in flames 



a single spark of passion 

can change a man forever 

a moment in a lifetime 

is all it takes to break him 



a fraction of a heartbeat 

made us what we are 

a brother and a sister 

for better or for worse 



a billion words ago 

they sang a song of leaving 

an echo from the chorus 

will call them back again 



a choir full of longing… 

tonight we light the fires 

we call our ships to port 

tonight we walk on water 

and tomorrow we'll be gone