Clay and Dust -- A Poem by PappaBear

Men are made of clay and dust,
And that is something you can never trust
For mortal might is puny at best
And the wicked, like the sea, cannot rest
--Never rest, never rest, though try you might
Try you must.
Some day this evil man
Will return to his clay and dust.

I saw one rise in my younger years
I followed him with bitter tears
But clay and dust was all I found
Sin seemed spread all around
--All around, all around, Wash away
Looking in the mirrors.
Marley was right, the chain is struck!
Bound by my own condemning fears.

I held one close one Summer's Eve
And I heard the promise to never leave
But promises, like iron -- Did you know they rust?
They crack and seam, and then they bust.
--Break away!, Break away! Find me
Where I grieve
Dusty men and moldy women, too
Never ending lies they constantly weave.

A shadowed and burdened wreck of a man
This was not exactly what I planned.
But I must go on, I cannot stop
No time right now this burden to drop
--Hold it!, hold it! good and tight
Make a stand
Stand up with all your might
Looks decieve, if you think it's grand.

The broken shell upon the ground is scattered
Others look on as if it mattered.
People die clutching what they value best
At the last even the wicked must seeming rest
--Beneath the ground! Beneath the ground! But not yet
Your dreams have only flattered
'Tis not the end, my friend of clay and dust
Judgment now comes while you grip that rag all tattered.

Listen, my young one, and listen as I tell
Men are nothing more since Adam fell
But clay and dust, dust and clay
Never believe all that they say
--Speech! Speech! But faith
is the escape of hell
If that is the road you would travel
Then this old man wishes you to travel it well.