WAVING

you ask me what makes anger
you ask me why we rage
you ask me how to kill a fire 
or turn another page
you ask me what makes lightning strike 
or why the rain brings flood
what burns a nation down to sand
why war spills so much blood

and just for a moment
I thought you saw me wave
but you were looking the other way

you ask me how I taught myself to
turn the force around
look fear and anger in the eyes and
turn it into sound
you ask if I can ride the wave 
of dangerous emotion
and if bitter disappointments are 
the measure of my passion

and just for a moment
I thought I caught your eye
but you were turning the other way

when you were a young one 
you took the road you wanted 
you didn't live to compromise
you took the world in with your eyes 
and cut your portion down to size 

and as you grew we always knew
that you were not for turning
but when you take this path in life
remember that you light 
the fire you burn in