Breeding Hawks (0xTrace There Once was a Bell Mix)

asian bass, cyberpunk jungle, industrial dub

“There once was a bell, hung high in the square,  
Three men heard it ring, but not one saw it there...”

I was hungry. Not like bored-but-there’s-food type of way,  
I mean stomach to spine, hadn’t eaten in days.  
Saw a market stall stacked, gold and rice in a bin,  
And my mind said, *"Just this once, and never again."*

So I ran — snatched a coin pouch, breath cut short,  
Barefoot dash down the old north court.  
But fate ain’t a fence you can just leap past —  
I slipped on a stone and that moment didn’t last.

They caught me, judged me by the stains on my shirt,  
By the fact I was poor and born in the dirt.  
I swear I only took what I needed to eat —  
But who listens to a kid bleeding in the street?

I watched from the steps where I sip my tea,  
Seen too many boys fall like autumn leaves.  
He was not the first, nor the worst, nor the last,  
But the town needs peace, and a past is a past.

He ran through the square like a ghost on fire,  
With panic in his limbs and a thief’s desire.  
But what struck me most — was the way he fell,  
Like he was chasing more than just coins he could sell.

His eyes said hunger, but not just for food,  
They begged for a world a bit less cruel.  
I told the judge, “Punish, if you must,  
But don’t plant hate in a child you can’t trust.”

I sit where no man wants to — between the truth and the law,  
Where justice swings like a rusted saw.  
The villagers cry for safety, for blood,  
But the boy’s story? It sticks in the mud.

He stole, that’s fact. He ran, that’s true.  
But truth ain't always justice — and that’s hard to undo.  
I asked the elder, “Would you feed him then?”  
He said, “A hungry boy steals, but a fed boy mends.”

So I ruled like this: one week in the hall,  
Fed, taught, and watched — no chains at all.  
Let the bell ring loud, let the people talk,  
But if we beat every dog, we breed only hawks.

"Three men saw a crime, three minds drew a line —"
"Was it theft, was it fate, was it hunger in time?"
"When the bell rings again, and you rush to decide, "
"Ask who rang it... and who stood outside. "

2112/7500

“There once was a bell, hung high in the square, Three men heard it ring, but not one saw it there...” I was hungry. Not like bored-but-there’s-food type of way, I mean stomach to spine, hadn’t eaten in days. Saw a market stall stacked, gold and rice in a bin, And my mind said, *"Just this once, and never again."* So I ran — snatched a coin pouch, breath cut short, Barefoot dash down the old north court. But fate ain’t a fence you can just leap past — I slipped on a stone and that moment didn’t last. They caught me, judged me by the stains on my shirt, By the fact I was poor and born in the dirt. I swear I only took what I needed to eat — But who listens to a kid bleeding in the street? I watched from the steps where I sip my tea, Seen too many boys fall like autumn leaves. He was not the first, nor the worst, nor the last, But the town needs peace, and a past is a past. He ran through the square like a ghost on fire, With panic in his limbs and a thief’s desire. But what struck me most — was the way he fell, Like he was chasing more than just coins he could sell. His eyes said hunger, but not just for food, They begged for a world a bit less cruel. I told the judge, “Punish, if you must, But don’t plant hate in a child you can’t trust.” I sit where no man wants to — between the truth and the law, Where justice swings like a rusted saw. The villagers cry for safety, for blood, But the boy’s story? It sticks in the mud. He stole, that’s fact. He ran, that’s true. But truth ain't always justice — and that’s hard to undo. I asked the elder, “Would you feed him then?” He said, “A hungry boy steals, but a fed boy mends.” So I ruled like this: one week in the hall, Fed, taught, and watched — no chains at all. Let the bell ring loud, let the people talk, But if we beat every dog, we breed only hawks. "Three men saw a crime, three minds drew a line —" "Was it theft, was it fate, was it hunger in time?" "When the bell rings again, and you rush to decide, " "Ask who rang it... and who stood outside. "

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