In Empire

In Empire, the Old Empire
Roads are boundless and horns ceaseless
Remember, keep close to the car in front
Right of way is what you’d better forget
Stay alive and stay alert
Especially in the proximity of police

In Empire, the Old Empire
Some adore and some abort
Some invest in dust and rust
With one last dime
Some die with eyes kept shut
Throughout their life

In Empire, the Old Empire
Too many lungs need air
Too much time needs allocation
They say that’s the reason why
There are more cameras than eyes

In Empire, the Old Empire
So many words and so many pages
Stipulate rules about loves and hatreds
Yet some other words and other phrases
Never mean the same as in the dictionaries

In Empire, the Old Empire
For centuries, no one’s learned to
Solve with external variables an equation
But no worries, someone’s managed to
Weave a coat thick enough for insulation

In Empire, the Old Empire
Characters are broken and conversations monotone
Swift horses departing from the capital
Carrying earthquakes, tsunamis and hail
Are arriving at every factory and every jail

In Empire, the Old Empire
I’m nothing but a rat
Crawling through skyscrapers so erect
That rigid black-and-white costume hat
Turns my mouth and tongue into a regret