BERLIN (The Divided Self) by Bruce Ray – November 1989
“The wall! The wall is coming down!”
O glad night, that you could see this day
O bright heart, that you could speak these words
The wall; the knife that separates
Badge of the divided self…
O hated wall you cannot speak
but if you could
You would say “NO!”
with cold guarded breath
“The wall! The wall is coming down!”
I curse the hesitant that hold us back
and I swear on my grave that I will die
a free man
Behold the soldier…
How he stands with disbelief
No, he cannot believe his eyes
But the wall crumbles nevertheless
The divided self cannot endure
The crippled will walk anew
and the stifled cry of lovers will
change the broken heart of man
The tyrant falls to pieces
like the shattered idol of the state
shiny and polished
but too fragile and delicate
to withstand the wind of the people
that expands in anger
and threatens to bring down every foundation
every wall that lives in us
“The wall! The wall is coming down!”
Every heart is a crucible in darkness
And every hand will rise to touch the sun
Rejoice! For the night is on fire
Oh, the stars are falling
but I am not afraid…
This is not how they said it would be!
Every spirit walks in splendor
and every mouth is fed with food for the soul
Now I can sing…
SENSE AND NONSENSE 