i. asteres planetai

a flickering multitude piercing through blackest night
erratic and chaotic patterns of sidereal light
like a moth drawn in despite impending fate terrible
transient glimmer of pyrite, false grace irresistible

(path of Cain) twisting the arms of fate, shift its shape with violence
(Balaam’s error) gazing upon the gleam, temporal affinity
(Korah’s rebellion) seeking divinity, rejection of created order

the seas are sick with reefs to breach the hull before the shore is found
the land thirsts beneath the ghastly shade of waterless clouds
the beggars choke on breathless pleas offered at the feet of fruitless trees
beneath a gibbous light we lose our way tossed about by wild waves
we are following the course of the wayward stars
asking all the questions of who we are
following the course
of the wayward stars
finding who we are

ii. cloud of darkness

lower the sails, this storm is battering
patch up the cracks, this ship is shattering
fear in the air, the souls are scattering
riding Poseidon’s wake
swear i can feel the earth shake

summon your courage, spare your cowardice
all of your lives have led you up to this
driven, if not by fame, then avarice
Thaumas in rage, salacious
thirsty for blood berates us

darkness surrounds with fog mysterious
venturing toward the grave of Nereus
captain and crew appear delirious
if we don’t find a way through
we’re never gonna see blue
skies or a sunset over home again
nevertheless, we are the chosen men
pull it together, we are stronger than
what any sea can send us
thunder and rain won't end us

we’re on our way through a cloud of darkness
we’re heading into the storm
we’re on our way through a cloud of darkness
we’re gonna have to press on

iii. oligopistides

each moment the storm grows darker
clutched to our chests, all that we cherish
whipped about by a whirlwind
certain that we will perish
like a little child, i close my eyes
and pretend this allows me to hide
daddy, daddy, why are you sleeping
when i need you by my side?

why did we start this journey
when we knew such a tempest loomed?
the ocean which has borne us
now intends to be our doom
in isolated terror
i seek vain sanctuary
then comes a calm serenity
if only momentary

ye of little faith, how can i save you?

iv. 40 years

friend, i couldn’t help but notice you look a little hopeless
i hope this mopiness isn’t a consequence of your dopiness
forgive my intervention, i assure you i’ve only the best intentions
now that i have your attention, i feel compelled to mention
you might desire to retire that uninspiring attire
you’re a man of many miles but no smiles to show for it
if my wiles can transform your lifestyle, i say go for it
you can ignore my advances, but there may be no more chances
so i implore you to consider your finances
you’ve come for comfort but come up wanting
a fearful feeling your soul is haunting
it’s truer than true, though it might seem funny,
you just can’t top the bright gleam of money
oh yeah, money
ahh, there’s nothing like the smell, and the touch, and the taste
it’s a waste to see such a nice fellow depressed
but i stress what i tell you, so much trust misplaced
just replace your old crutch with a well-stocked account
it’ll turn your life around, make your life abound
sweep you off the ground with its joyous sound
you won’t be wont to recount your woes
when your portfolios hold more gold than you can count!
just twelve easy steps and you’ll be on your way
for twelve easy payments, but really it pays for itself
ten times over, with the health and wealth
you’re destined for prosperity
preserve none for posterity
improve your popularity
donate a bit to charity
the pinnacle of purity
of safety and security
smoother than silk
sweeter than honey
all the world revolves around money
that’s right, money

don’t be deceived by trashy lies
the grand illusion of flashing lights
open your third eye, expand your mind
by gazing into the transfinite
let constellations be the focus of your eyes
celestial luminaries, your faithful guides
release your aura that you’ve held so tight
project the astral body and watch the skies
the end is coming, of this we know
complete disruption of the status quo
we read the prophecies the stars foretold
a cryptic message behind the glow
but all is clear to us, we’ve cracked the code
don’t miss the meaning of the signs they show
the heights of wisdom sent to us below
where they have been, we can never go

i feel your disconnection, your troubles and your trials
you seek an end to suffering and pain
the answer is not inward, nor upward, nor outward
to search in these directions is in vain
the spirit of the truth is in the roses and the rainbows
the lights in the sky and seedlings in the ground
the key to life is all the life revealed in nature
the answer that you need is all around
take me deep into the heart of the sunrise
‘round about the south side of the sky
close to the edge of the gates of delirium
cannot wait to be over this life
then, we will rise at the dance of the dawn
standing high like giants under the sun
and you and i will awaken to discover
we have heaven in every little thing

v. asteres mysterioi

where can i go from Your spirit?
where from Your face can i flee?
in the highest of heights You are there
in the darkest of depths You are there
were i to rise on the wings of the dawn
to sail away to the edge of the sea
still i would fall in the palm of Your hand
still i would find myself held in Your grasp

vi. godless heaven

hey brother
i’ve got news for you about your life
no other messenger can tell you what i can
hush! silence...can you hear the sound she sings sweetly
discover all you ever dreamed can be your reality

come! welcome to our paradise, pure perfection
all reason, flawless and pristine, exact science
ideal implementation of high logic
revealing all the mysteries of our universal dream

sensory overload, where am i? i cannot believe
this island kingdom fabricated by the brightest for the best
crystalline towers stretch as high as the eye can perceive
paradigm of harmony, a place to find some peace and rest

don’t be concerned about the secrets that we keep
the machinations that sustain us while we sleep
our light dissimulates the darkness in the deep
emotions cauterized so we don’t have to weep

there’s something strange about the citizens of this utopia
mindless homogeny, discordance met with a collective grief
a silent qualm beneath the calm façade of their euphoria
a grim machine to obviate all individual belief

we built this city as a cenotaph for fate
to mute the testimony of a cosmic faith
the blood of dissidents this thirsty ground will sate
and you will join them if you stand in the way

what of identity? you can’t succeed in suffocating souls
you are no better than automata, deterministic drive
this illusory paradise is no glimmering diamond, it’s black as coal
i must be free of it if i am to remain truly alive

vii. choir of echoes

an overwhelming revelation
the genesis of restoration
a harmony for all creation
all creatures in their right relation
a refuge from the devastation
a home for every tribe and nation
a song to sing with adoration
eternal peace without cessation

a truth beyond the wildest fiction
complete and without contradiction
a pure and resolute conviction
from One with holy jurisdiction
to save His children from affliction
to break the bondage of addiction
to lead them out in benediction
to liberty without restriction

a tingle to excite the senses
a clarity through darkened lenses
a freedom that the light dispenses
a mercy that forgives offenses
a haven for the poor defenseless
a wisdom that invites the senseless
a kingdom built without defenses
a love that moves without pretenses

beyond the scope of human vision
constructed not of man’s decision
a unity without division
where needs are met with sure provision
the sick are healed, the dead are risen
the promised hope of true religion
without the trappings of tradition
the fountainhead of pure volition

home, bring me home
home, bring us home

viii. edge of the earth

(we come now to a place which to all listeners should easily appear
we bid you close your eyes and picture there your greatest fear
the grimmest fate is when you find yourself unable to be what you’re meant to be
imagine, then, the sailor’s horror at the sight of no more sea…)

this...this is the end
there’s nowhere left for us to flee
our journey has failed
we never found our destiny
but maybe this world
isn’t the world that was meant to be
i have yet seen
deep in my dreams, a new reality

enough! you dare speak of dreams?
go back to sleep and tell me when
your ideas cross over into
the realm of men
fantasies come and go
but we are in no place to pretend
that there’s any hope
it’s all come to this...this is the end

we found the limit of the everlasting ocean
a fatal obstacle to our persistent motion
the boats that brought us here can’t take us any farther
instead of heroes, they’ll remember us as martyrs
we have blasphemed the names of sacred faith and science
one or the other comes to punish our defiance
o, do you hear the knell of that returning thunder?
the stars that held our hands now deign to pull us under
we sought salvation from tyrannical oppression
abandoning the ways restricting our progression
immortal empire we raised and spread together
yet here we find ourselves no better off than ever
we dance the line between our slavery and freedom
maintain a balance of two contradicting kingdoms
afraid to sacrifice our temporal desires
we chase the wind until the moment we expire

and so we sway
(back and forth and back and forth and…)
walking on the unbroken line
cycling through death and rebirth
holding to a moment in time
falling off the edge of the earth

ix. aster proïnon / light of the Morning Star

hey! are you awake?
you’ve been out for so long
i thought you might be gone
safe we’re drifting on the waves
the storm has passed us by
but there’s no end in sight

look! a star shines in the distance
a luminous persistence
a goal for us to seek
though we row with desperation
toward this invitation
the light we cannot reach

look! the star descends from heaven
from our horizon beckons
it surely begs us home
still our exercise is fruitless
the ocean’s waves are ruthless
we’ll sink here like a stone

look! the light is drawing closer
our hopelessness is over
we’ll soon be back on land
wait! it walks upon the water
it calls us son and daughter
and takes us by the hand
out upon the sea He leads us
from ruin He has freed us
to bring us onto shore
home, where darkness is defeated
and at the gates we’re greeted
with light forevermore
with life forevermore

we are following the course of the morning star
finding all the answers of who we are
following the course
of the morning star
this is who we are