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“Instructions Set in Bone” by Peter Lillios was first published by the Society of Classical Poets here. Now songwriter Joseph DeNatale has created a version with adapted lyrics below.

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Instructions Set in Bone (Music Lyrics)

With my own knife, by my own hand,
I carve these words in no-man’s-land
Upon the skull of my late foe,
Who sheltered here some weeks ago.

He’d only paused to rest a time,
And plug a hole, broad as a dime,
Drilled into him from our front line
By someone’s rifle—maybe mine.

He’d bled out then, afraid, alone—
No way to part or to atone,
Save for a scrap of paper there,
Clutched in his fist, the bones laid bare.

Slash by slash, I inscribe my mark.
I send these words as envoys from the dark.
Slice by slice, I extend my hand.
I hope that you will understand
I hope that you will understand.

The ink has long since rinsed away,
His wishes lost to rain and spray.
They mingle thus with bile and blood,
And float atop this pool of mud.

Now here I sit in our shared tomb,
Half hour or less before my doom.
I too was felled, but in my case,
These letters shall not be effaced.

I wash his skull with my canteen,
And buff it to a perfect sheen.
I’ll etch now my last testament,
And strive to make it eloquent.

Slash by slash, I inscribe my mark.
I send these words as envoys from the dark.
Slice by slice, I extend my hand.
I hope that you will understand
I hope that you will understand

I know not whom this verse will reach,
And do not dare opine or preach.
No words of mine could much deserve,
More than my foe’s, to be preserved.

I was a brother and a son,
Taught only how to hold a gun,
And how to skin a hare or deer
Back home, with Pa, in yesteryear.

So I’ll write this, and then must go:
Should these words reach a wiser foe,
Take up your knife—see it’s not dull—
And carve your wisdoms in my skull.

Slash by slash,
I inscribe my mark.
I send these words as envoys from the dark.
Slice by slice,
I extend my hand.
I hope that you will understand.
I hope that you will understand.

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Peter Lillios resides in Sound Beach, New York. He is an auditor by profession.

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.

20 Responses

  1. Paul Buchheit

    Peter & Joseph: Superb words and music! Makes me think about the folly of human beings always fighting each other.

    Reply
  2. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Perfect… a marriage of admirably wrought exciting words with beautiful, heart-touching music … a real treat. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Yael

    Even though the poem was a little on the gruesome side for my taste, there is truth in it and the song composition is beautiful. I appreciate the musical arrangement and the quality of the recording. It’s very well done and really enhances the poem.

    Reply
    • Peter Lillios

      Thanks, Yael! I hoped to deploy the more macabre elements in service of a greater meaning here — and I’m glad some of that shone through for you! And thanks too for your kind words about the music!

      Reply
  5. AB Brown

    Love it! A great blending of two talents here. Look forward to more songified poems, it’s a great idea.

    Reply
    • Paul Freeman

      The only other song with similar sentiment I can recall is Jona Lewie’s ‘Stop the Cavalry’.

      Reply
      • Peter Lillios

        Thanks, Paul. I hadn’t ever heard that song, and had no idea the Brits regard it as a Christmas classic!

        I would also offer “Green Fields of France” in a similar vein.

  7. Roy Eugene Peterson

    The lyrics and music remind me of some of the Irish ballads. They fit perfectly together and enhance the mood.

    Reply
    • Peter Lillios

      Thanks, Roy! We did indeed discuss Irish ballads as an inspiration when devising this piece.

      Reply
  8. Joshua C. Frank

    This is great! I love poetry set to music, and this is the perfect melody, voice, instrumentation, and everything else for that poem. I’d love to hear Mr. DeNatale do this for some of the other poetry here…

    Reply
  10. James A. Tweedie

    Peter, Exquisitely expressed and, when paired with the music, your words transcend the themes of sadness, suffering and death, as they penetrate deep into some of the broken places in our human condition which we would prefer to be left untouched, even though such places are in sore need of repentance, forgiveness, and healing grace.

    Reply

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