Sphinx

Reluctantly I took the call Knowing it was from the Sphinx Sphinx said I'm not the one who knows it all But I've had some pause to think I've seen kingdoms rise, empires fall Some stand tall while others shrink Power, power everywhere Not a single drop to drink In the desert that's no joke It's thirsty work beguiling folk While madmen hover at the brink We romanced when we were young In my feline innocence Curious sins whose price has been To become your conscience Milk you spilled has turned quite sour Actions have their consequence Years peel far at a layer Memories are the fists they clench Dear Sphinx, please be succinct The days are short and I've chores to run I'm happy that you thought to call And sorry to be hung up But kindly summarise your conundrum Easy truth is not my thing I would rather play the riddle game How come you bow to sing and strum You always seem to sound the same Well the scenes I've seen and the words I've heard All swallowed in this sea of sand Of papyrus scripts and verbal falls Truth and lies and flesh and bones Just a little dust remains Just a little dust remains Just a little dust remains Just a little dust remains Just a little dust remains The caravans pass, the action fades To the silence at the end of songs To the silence