To Carthage then I came
As a young boy lost in the promise of
The steady beating heart
Of the metropolis

But I spent so long beneath
The dim street lighting that
I strained my eyes and
Lost the finesse of my fine hand-writing

It's not like I need it these days
My letters home have been getting shorter
I can't concentrate if
I can't secure a source of clean water

But there's never a drop to drink
In these concrete furrows
My anger is Vesuvius casting its shadow

I spent so long walking across bridges
Failing to appreciate
The sweating rivers flow escaping
Leaving the city streets
Tinderbox-dry and oh-so-tempting
My fatigue is San Andreas
Shuddering slow
I mark my lintel with bloodstains
And dream of suburbs up in flames

Every evening when I arrive
Back at home
And finally lock my front door
Carthago Est Delenda
And the pavements are
Beaches once more

In the morning when my alarm wakes me
The concrete is back in its place
As I trudge through the streets
At the break of day
It's the river that calls me away

The river flows outside of town
Away from dirt and away from crowds
And if I could follow it to the sea
I'd wash the sweat right off of me
So break my legs and weigh me down
Throw me in, but I won't drown
I'll float away, go down the stream
The river leads outside the city