the soundtrack of contemporary life

There's a nail in the door
And there's glass on the lawn
Tacks on the floor
And the TV is on
And I always sleep with my guns when you're gone
There's a blade by the bed
And a phone in my hand
A dog on the floor
And some cash on the nightstand
When I'm all alone the dreaming stops
And I just can't stand
What should I do, I'm just a little baby
What if the lights go out
And maybe, and then the wind just starts to moan
Outside the door he followed me home
So goodnight moon, I want the sun
If it's not here soon
I might be done
No it won't be too soon 'til I say goodnight moon
There's a shark in the pool
And a witch in the tree
A crazy old neighbor and he's been watching me
And there's footsteps loud and strong coming down the hall
Something's under the bed
Now it's out in the hedge
There's a big black crow sitting on my window ledge
And I hear something scratching through the wall
What should I do I'm just a little baby
What if the lights go out
And maybe I just hate to be all alone, outside the door he followed me home
So goodnight moon
I want the sun
If it's not here soon
I might be done
No it won't be too soon 'til I say goodnight moon

Goodnight Moon, Shivaree

What separates the Wise Virgin de nos jours from the Foolish – a nail in the door and glass on the lawn, tacks on the floor and the TV on, sleeping with her guns and a blade by the bed, a phone in the hand, a dog on the floor, and some cash on the nightstand. In other words, preparedness for every eventuality. 'Twas ever thus.

(Which reminds me: must bring the Princess – and the Begum – up to scratch on their marksmanship, and their blade work. Unsuitable suitors are bound to begin circling soon, and I can't man all the gates by myself.)