Curious

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Curious – Quicksand Kerry

She’s so young, she’s so sweet, she’s so inviting
She’s the cream, the wet dream of all her schoolmates
They’re curious and so is she
She wants to know about all she’s read of in the magazines
She’s petite, so fit, so innocent
Jailbait party girl, but it’s wearing thin

Her body is changing, her mind is expanding
Her history’s building, her life is closing in

They’re so young, they’re so strong, they’re so inviting
What they want’s what you flaunt, see where the power is
They get so upset when you won’t play ball, are you worried that you’ll lose it all?
They’re so drunk, they’re so thick, they’re yours to play with
Don’t concern yourself with trying to change them

Her body is changing, her mind is expanding
Her history’s building, her life is closing in

They’re curious and so is she
She wants to know about all she’s read of in the magazines…

She’s so young, she’s so sweet, so much potential
But such haste, what a waste
She should have more control

Her body is changing, her mind is expanding
Her history’s building, her life is closing in

_____________________________________________________________________________

I wrote this around 2002, possibly inspired by Depeche Mode’s “A Question Of Time” and The Slits’ “So Tough”.  In the clubs and circles I  was moving in at the time I’d known a lot  of  teenage girls who would come on to the scene at  that awkward age when childish naivety and eagerness to please feeds into first opportunities to explore the adventures of adulthood, only to get taken advantage of, used and left cynical, bitter shells of what they once were.

Saint Sarah

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Through rain and snow she’ll be there
She doesn’t mind humiliation
The more she has to go through
The greater her claim
To martyrdom
Passers-by taunting her brimstone oration
Saint Sarah
Stands
Alone
With a book in her hand
And a voice in her head
She knows she must warn the people
Of the fate
That awaits them
After they’re dead

Not through sympathy
Not through empathy
Not through sisterly concern
Does she spend her days
Shouting at people to change their ways
She’s righteous

Every religion begins with persecution
Deep down she longs for the ridicule
That helps stake her claim
To holiness
She’s not a cult, she’s a messenger
Saint Sarah
Stands
Alone
With a book in her hand
And a voice in her head
She keeps herself going smiling over
The fate
That awaits them
After
They’re
Dead.

__________________

Inspired by a street preacher who used to ply her trade in the centre of Leeds – watching her as she bellowed at the passing crowds who would heckle and laugh at her, I began to suspect that enduring abuse from the heathen masses was actually closer to the point of the exercise than convincing people to convert to her religion or helping them in any way. 

From my  own spiritual journey, I’ve noticed approaches to religion (and secular philosophy for that matter) tend be about either opening yourself up to the enormity of creation or closing down the universe to something that better fits your own ideas.  I’m also uncomfortably aware that Saint Sarah’s self righteous wannabe martyrdom is something we’re all guilty of sometimes.  I’m probably guilty of it right now.