The Birdwatchers

He had a guide book and binoculars
He called himself a birdwatcher
But he knew that we were seeking out
Something beyond geese and grouse
Ravaged by our nagging doubts
The new age and the restless nights
We said we'd like to see the sites
He said he'd like to take us

We first made his acquaintance
Through a series of small payments
Wires and ACHs
Veering through the clearing house
We bought our tickets through the touts
Before the offers disappeared
Found our seats and sat between the dilettantes and profiteers

When we landed were greeted by the salesmen
In the market where you exit from the station

We were initially suspicious but we drank ourselves complicit
The next three days were skippers, man
Picking up the whispers from the dealers and the drifters
Of a strongman with some soldiers and a suntan
Our guide said that the city was just a little jumpy
And he took us to a party and tried to introduce us
To a girl they called The Colonel
And a kid they called The Cardinal
'Cause I guess he was from Phoenix or St. Louis

And the Colonel said she could probably use us
And now we're marching with her army through the forest
She said you won't get any service when we get to certain pockets
But you might hear screeching noises
'Cause the rockets sound like ravens when they're skipping off the pavement
And if you ever hear the church bells then get down on the ground

At first we were suspicious but we drank ourselves complicit
It felt just like a fable with a complicated ending
Toured the royal castle, itt was glass and mud and marble
With guns down on the table 'cause it wasn't worth defending

The Cardinal and The Colonel
Said the ringing of the church bells
Are a signal from the generals
To tighten up the yoke
The view through the binoculars
Was spooky but spectacular
Blue sky and golden eagles
And little puffs of smoke

The Birdwatcher was laughing now
Asked us if we wondered how
Such a pretty picture
Could ever turn against itself?

We saw the youth out on the avenues
And the long looks in the automats
The Russians we met were selling black market cigarettes
Yeah, I don't think we danced with any diplomats
The thrill of being at the scene, ducking out and in between the curfew and the skirmishes
Went off into the wilderness to check the natural habitat
Turned out that we finally found a purpose
When they asked for our credentials
We told them we were looking for some birds