Minstrel In The Gallery

(album: Minstrel In The Gallery - 1975)

The minstrel in the gallery looked down upon the
smiling faces.
He met the gazes observed the spaces between the
old men's cackle.
He brewed a song of love and hatred oblique
suggestions and he waited.
He polarized the pumpkin-eaters static-humming
panel-beaters freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters
(salaried and collar-scrubbing).
He titillated men-of-action belly warming, hands
still rubbing on the parts they never mention.
He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating
one-line jokers T.V. documentary makers
(overfed and undertakers).
Sunday paper backgammon players family-scarred
and women-haters.
Then he called the band down to the stage and he
looked at all the friends he'd made.

The minstrel in the gallery looked down on the
rabbit-run.
And threw away his looking-glass saw his face in
everyone.