[Intro] Two coppers to my name The gods have turned their faces The wine keeps vigil where I can’t [Verse 1] The tide pool holds a broken sky, my offerings grow stale An oracle sings through laurel smoke— she will not lift the veil I’m king and fool by turns, my love, a robe that will not warm; they change the masks, the play goes on, the ending keeps its form [Refrain] I knew, I knew I’d lose Between what is and isn’t true, I knew I’d lose [Verse 2] They cast old bones on the feasting board, the knuckles clack like rain The priest says fate is fixed— spared? he cannot see my name My queen keeps mirrors in her sleeves, she powders me with scorn; my sons divide the winter wheat before the field is shorn [Refrain] I knew, I knew I’d lose The candle argues with the night; I hold it till I burn and bruise [Verse 3] Advisors laugh behind scroll and figs; the crowds rehearse their stones The city drums a hungry hymn against my thinning bones I do not sleep; I fear the door where dreams come, taut and lean I drink the last of yesterday, smiling at the bitter wine’s sheen [Bridge] (Not mercy)... just the ledger, not blessing—just the due If love was ever king of me, it abdicated too [Verse 4] A moon of salt above the port, a ship of ash below; the bone-caster counts backward from a number I don’t know And you, my heart’s conspirator, you bloom and then you burn; I’d open you to heal the night, but some paths don’t return [Final Refrain] I knew, I knew I’d lose in dust, in glass, in sleep I lay the crown beside the cup; the cup is mine to keep [Outro] Two coppers to my name The gods don’t answer questions The wine and I do not complain 🏳️👑🏴 © 2025 𝑴𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂
