Hatchlings

I have studied shell traces on your soft downy heads How different the markings before the fire had fled I have studied your faces all those terrible lies But I find in their place only fathomless skies Hatchlings, my hatchlings Double youg twins Twice born, my darlings With two sets of skin Such a cruel little riddle I was set by the face To bo brought down so low by one thought so great And I wish and I wish 'till the black leaves my veins That the softest of feathers never brought me such pain Hatchlings, my hatchlings Double young twins Who's going to take you under their wing? For if you hear wing beats won't you crawl to the shade For it mite be your father on his nightly raid Come to take you reshape you in the crook of his thigh Then who's going to sing you forsaken lullabies Hatchlings, my hatchlings Double young twins I wonder, I wonder What this wide world will bring They tell me to be chosen is an auspicious sign That shame is no different however royal the line And next time he's wearing his clever disguise I won't be fooled by his feathers for there's blood in his eyes