Lest We Die

My neighbor is a better man than I
And from your hands do all good things derive
So if my heart should swell
And of itself think well
Then humble me till I am fully thine
There’s war within my fragile skin
A violent revolt for mastery over my soul
Control is the strong man’s hoax
Skill and wealth are my only hope
A selfish grasping for worthless thrones
And it tells me «I am greatest»
So I gave it not one inch
Still it spread throughout my limbs
For my solace in the victory
Was the proof of my defeat
Who is worth anything apart from you?
Who could own anything?
My neighbor is a better man than I
And from your hands do all good things derive
So if my heart should swell
And of itself think well
Then humble me till I am fully thine
I’ve been turning wine to water
And crippling my healthy brothers
I’m walking on the ocean floor
And stirring up the fiercest storms
No I did not pour out these tides
Or tell these planets to align
My breath could never give new life
So why am I so full of pride