Signboy- What Once Was Grand
the contested duality of memory's usefulness
inspired by, and borrowing lyrics from sonnet #144 by Shakespeare

what once was grand will surely carry you
through needless pain that causes you to grieve
of things that brought you joy when you were blue
the only truth you'll find is in the weave
the universe's rules down to the letter
give no regard to those that would explain
how what has passed makes what is here seem better
for each remembered moment shows quite plain
that everyone delights in your despair
you'll do yourself no favors to believe
that what you thought was cruel is truly fair
if you recall with open eyes you'll see
the bitter losses you were wrongly dealt
believe me now, what once was grand will melt

it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
and two sides of doubt
it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
at war all about

believe me now, what once was grand will melt
the bitter losses you were wrongly dealt
if you recall with open eyes you'll see
that what you thought was cruel is truly fair
you'll do yourself no favors to believe
that everyone delights in your despair
for each remembered moment shows quite plain
how what has passed makes what is here seem better
give no regard to those that would explain
the universe's rules down to the letter
the only truth you'll find is in the weave
of things that brought you joy when you were blue
through needless pain that causes you to grieve
what once was grand will surely carry you

it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
and two sides of doubt
it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
at war all about

~~~
Two loves I have of comfort and despair,
Which like two spirits do suggest me still:
The better angel is a man right fair,
The worser spirit a woman colour'd ill.
To win me soon to hell*, my female evil
Tempteth my better angel from my side,
And would corrupt my saint to be a devil,
Wooing his purity with her foul pride.
And whether that my angel be turn'd fiend
Suspect I may, but not directly tell;
But being both from me, both to each friend,
I guess one angel in another's hell:
Yet this shall I ne'er know, but live in doubt,
Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
~~~

it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
and two sides of doubt
it's all I can do
to shut it all out
with angels and demons
and angels and demons
around

• I'm not sure if anyone will notice, but the original sonnet was made to work with the lines in reverse order for the second verse. I'm kinda proud of that