Slack in the Rope

There comes a time

When you have to make a choice

Listen to the little voice

Screaming in your head

Telling you to pick a side

Because the middle never wins.

You can't be a Union soldier

Waving a Confederate flag

Or a Capulet daughter

Wedding a Montague man.

At some point the bitter feud

Will catch up with you

And they'll ask you to choose

Because Lancastrians can't

Wear Yorkist white roses

And Achilles can't fight

With Hector at his side.

Eventually you will find

History is cruel to those

Who can't choose their battle lines

And no respect is given

Until you've declared a side. 

So are you a Capulet

Or a Montague?

Maybe Romeo and Juliet

Actually had it right-

Sometimes different sides

Are the same side

Separated by a thin, thin line

Waiting for someone brave enough

To try and compromise.

So I'll be Galileo

And you can play the Pope

I'm not asking for a pardon

Just a little slack in the rope.