In The Wake Of Poseidon/Libra's Theme
King Crimson Lyrics

Plato's spawn cold ivied eyes
The philosophical descendants of Plato, with their stern and unyielding gaze, see the truth of the world as it truly is.

Snare truth in bone and globe.
They capture the truth of the world in their intellect, which they see as encompassing everything from the smallest bones to the vastness of the earth itself.

Harlequins coin pointless games
Those who entertain with laughter and merriment often engage in meaningless games and jests, without any deeper purpose or value.

Sneer jokes in parrot's robe.
They make fun of jokes and humor, as if it were just a noisy bird mimicking sounds it does not understand.

Two women weep, Dame Scarlet Screen
Two women cry, as if in a dramatic production, with Dame Scarlet Screen serving as the backdrop to their sorrow.

Sheds sudden theater rain,
As if in a play, the scene is set with sudden rain falling to add to the dramatic effect.

Whilst dark in dream the Midnight Queen
In the dark of night, the Midnight Queen dreams, herself an embodiment of the human experience of suffering.

Knows every human pain.
She has an intimate understanding of the pain and suffering that every human being experiences, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

In air, fire, earth and water
The world and its elements are constantly in flux and change.

World on the scales.
The world is balanced on a scale, with equal parts air, fire, earth, and water.

Air, fire, earth and water
These are the elements that make up the world in which we live, and their balance is essential for the planet's continued existence.

Balance of change
Change is inevitable, but it must be balanced and managed properly for stability to be maintained.

Bishop's kings spin judgment's blade
Those in positions of power, be they religious or secular, make decisions that can have far-reaching consequences.

Scratch "Faith" on nameless graves.
They impose their faith on those who are powerless or have no voice, and these people suffer and die alone, without anyone to remember their names.

Harvest hags Hoard ash and sand
Those who are marginalized or oppressed hoard what little they have left, often in the form of ash and sand.

Rack rope and chain for slaves
They use physical force and imprisonment to keep people in bondage and prevent them from rising up against their oppressors.

Who fireside fear fermented words
Those in power use propaganda and lies to create a culture of fear that keeps people in check.

Then rear to spoil the feast,
When the people who are oppressed grow angry and restless, their masters hold them down and prevent them from achieving their freedom.

Whilst in the aisle the mad man smiles
Even amid all this suffering and chaos, there are those who delight in the madness and confusion, such as a man behaving strangely in a church.

To him it matters least.
They do not care about the suffering of others or about right and wrong, so long as they can continue to indulge in their madness.

Heroes hands drain stones for blood
Those who are seen as heroes in war, spill blood with their hands.

To whet the scaling knife.
They spill that blood to make the blade sharper.

Magi blind with visions light
Those who are seen as wise or enlightened, are often blinded by their own visions of grandeur, rather than seeing the truth of reality.

Net death in dread of life.
They catch death in a net of dread, always fearing what might come next, rather than living in the present moment.

Their children kneel in Jesus till
Their children are taught to follow a particular religion, in this case Christianity.

They learn the price of nail,
They learn of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the heavy toll Christianity demands of its followers.

Whilst all around our mother earth
In spite of all of this, the earth continues to turn and the world keeps moving forward.

Waits balanced on the scales.
It is up to us to find a way to balance ourselves and our world, to find a way forward that does not rely on oppression, violence, or the exploitation of others.