speaker to the dead

who speaks to break the silence is afraid
but not afraid enough to stay his tongue
those who are not bright enough die young
all of them beads strung on the long braid
the road that leads us here has a low grade
words are held back right down in the lung
not to speak now marks each as unstrung
plans will come to pass if they're well-laid
the marks of power are not the ones we see
the visible is only a small part of the whole
the message comes but only now to greet
the ones who climb right up the highest tree
who are all actors though they fake the role
each of them solitary in the crowded street