lupercus called on the goat<br><br>
he rose from a fire of blood and skin<br><br>
"laugh, boys," they cried,<br><br>
wiping alabaster clean,<br><br>
"and choose the name of the girl!"<br><br>
faunus hung back from the feast<br><br>
he rose from the soil of lust and birth<br><br>
"open yourselves, girls," they cried,<br><br>
gently prodding thighs,<br><br>
"and from maiden to mother you'll go!"<br><br>
claudius raged from his throne<br><br>
he rose on a mantle of char and war<br><br>
"avoid the union, citizens," he cried,<br><br>
suiting them in armour,<br><br>
"for battle is no place for the lovesick!"<br><br>
valentine sneaked from the heather<br><br>
he rose on the love and chastity of christ<br><br>
"pure is matrimony, children," he cried,<br><br>
marrying them all in shadow,<br><br>
"your heart will be hardy with family!"<br><br>
but claudius struck valentine down<br><br>
and his heart pumped blood on the flowers<br><br>
lupercus and faunus trembled in fear<br><br>
watching their time so fade<br><br>
but love never stopped beating it's goatskin drum<br><br>
love never stopped drawing a crowd<br><br>
the lotto has ended, the names are all picked<br><br>
and scattered over this valentine's shroud.