tell me happiness is still possible--

palm to palm/tip to tip:
"a butcher's hand, but a gentle heart."
*
muffled agony:
one of pillow's many functions
*
jaded eyes, ashened face, tortured mind:
this is for honor, for family, for the nation

**
tell me that ideals are worth upholding
tell me that family, love, honor, the greater "good"
is true
tell me that sacrifices are necessary
tell me that everyone will be happy
*
"come on down to the laughing city"