Lyrics Twilight's Last Gleamings - William S. Burroughs

Twilight's Last Gleamings

Yep.
SS America off Jersey coast.
Ladies and Gentlemen there is no cause for alarm.
We have a minor problem in the boiler room, but everything is now under the
sound effects of a nuclear blast.
Explosion splits the boat.
Dr. Benway, ships doctor, drunkenly added two inches to a four inch incision
with one stroke of his scalpel.
'Perhaps the appendix is already out doctor?'
The nurse said.
Appearing dubiously over his shoulder, 'I saw a little scar'
'The appendix already out!'
'I'm taking the appendix out!'
'What do you think I’m doing here?!'
'Perhaps the appendix is on the left side doctor that happens sometimes you
know!'
'Stop breathing down my neck I’m coming to that.'
'Don't you think I know where an appendix is?'
'I studied appendectomy in 1904 at Harvard'
He lifts the abdominal wall and searches around the incision dropping ashes
from his cigarette.
'Get me a new scalpel;
this one’s got no edge to it!'
He thrusts a red fist at her.
The doctor reels back and flattens against the
wall, a bloody scalpel clutched in one hand.
The patient slides off the
operating table spilling intestines across the floor.
Dr. Benway sweeps instruments, cocaine and morphine into his satchel.
'Sew her up, I can’t be expected to work under such conditions!'
By the dawns early light, Dr. Benway pushed through a crowd at the rail and
boarded the first flight croak.
'Are you alright?'
he said, seating himself amongst the women, 'I'm the doctor'
Thank-you.