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Mister Blume
there must have been a groundhog near my home cause winter always stayed around too long
must have been busy casting his shadow and he’d be lucky if that’s all he saw
everyday starts the same the music plays, get out of bed wash your head notice more grey
you never know if today your life will change or just go back as usual
treat me for the sickness of an ever thinking mind
I’m not giving up, believe me I’ve tried
it must have been a shark that took your life cause you’ve been gone for such a long long time
it’s hard to see when the son is in your eyes, sudden descent of knight was a surprise
on the hunt for some fish, you’re ocean bound, a supplement for your youth could not be found,
and in the end after all is said and done you wisely choose to let it go
treat me for the sickness of an ever thinking mind
I’m not giving up
believe me, I’ve tried forgetting and forgiving
no solution for the time between sleep cycles where the dreams are all mine
Caspian Sea Sick
I hit the streets about an hour ago, scribbled some digits on a music note
I feel the pressure and I want to scream but I can’t do it cause it’s just not me
I couldn’t do it if I wanted to, not full of ire or weighed down by virtue
I’m just a virus in the Caspian Sea, making you sicker than you want to be
I hit the books about an hour ago, scribbled a message near a Nietzsche quote
I fell asleep and now I want to dream, but I can’t do it cause it’s just like me
I couldn’t do it if I wanted to, not full of ire or weighed down by virtue
I’m just a virus in the Caspian Sea, making you sicker than you want to be
Making the List
we’re starting a list of the people we’ll miss on our birthdays and someday when sun rays envelop the moon
you can read it and marvel that mothers and family aren’t on it but pets and friends are
I bought out the contract, my foot’s out the door
I’m headed for tucson, I’ll be back the 4th and then we’ll draw out a map in carbon
obligatory affection tossed in my direction won’t nurture a bond in my heart or my mind
that would only suffice for one second of time in an age when a minute is not worth a dime
I bought out the contract, my foot’s out the door
I’m headed for tucson, I’ll be back the 4th and then we’ll draw out a map in carbon
the list will consist of nobody we’ve kissed
Fourth Place
ponder givings endlessly until the thoughts evoked lose all meaning
a mind could wander until it’s lost and it’s a narrow road back to the start
although I’d like to be at every show I find that finding one is difficult and as the whisper grows to a din
you’ve arrived at fourth place
caterpillar, butterfly
ignorance, peace of mind
picture perfect life with eyes that couldn’t picture perfect if they tried
a drop, a drink, a glass or two could open up those eyes ‘til lies are truths
although I’d like to be at every show I find that finding one is difficult and as the din becomes silence
you’ve arrived at fourth place
Depressed Sequence
every sequence is depressed ‘til you’re sure that no one’s home
everybody is afraid to pick up their telephone
to be called is to live, to pick up is to die
everybody in this world is in love with their life
Grey Sailor
where has worrying got you before
thinking ahead with your foot in the door
and when it slams it hurts that much more
cursing the crusher and spreader of spores
failure penned you a note
closed minded, open handed
where has arguing got you before
wasting thoughts on what should be ignored
winning won’t fix an uneven score
lackluster lip service, practice perform
failure read what you wrote
rough waters, smooth sailing
I’m not afraid to lose, what can I do but accept everyone’s truth
Teach Me
can you help me with this canister, I’m never sure which way to turn the key, beats me
and if you help me with this one I’m sure I’ll find the cure for what’s been hurting me, beats me
and if you don’t I’ll try it on my own, but please be waiting by the phone
cause if I get cut I’ll call you, if I was a dog I’d maul you, on the court I would ball you, average height six feet tall you
can you get me to the eye doctor, I’m never sure which way from denton street, beats me
and if you get me there this time I’m sure that all the blurs will clear up rapidly, you’ll see
and if you don’t I’ll get there on my own, but please be waiting by the phone
cause if I get lost I’ll call you, some harm will befall you, our techs will install you, you’re so cute you doll you
when you pass the lamp please switch it on
if the plug falls out just pinch the prongs
if you lock me out I won’t say so long
I’ll just walk the street ‘til your right is wrong
can you teach me what this life is for, I’m never sure why it seems that everything beats me
and if you don’t I’ll find out on my own, I will know by the time this seed has grown
and if the tree dies I’ll call you
Secret Vacation
I’ve made up my mind, I’m leaving you again
I’m trading my success for secret vacations
I’ll pretend, la la la
I’ll give you a call in time to catch the yellow ball
when I get back I plan to leave again
I have never seen you as a friend
I’ll pretend, la la la
maybe everybody feels the same way that I feel when I am thinking of escaping from you
Rach Enroll (rach like maninoff)
look into a mirror, take a turn
could be for the worst, you never learn
the broken handle of an empty suitcase
spells it out inside your hand
may not have been the first, I wasn’t cursed
a diamond necklace clasp for melancholy math
travertine canvas barren since the gold rush
paints her in a corner
a broad stroke of green, a hint of white
sets you straight from left to right
the shadow plaster casts, a frequency
outside of everyone, inside of everything
palatial room inside a tin roof shanty
sets the stage for sinking
a broad stroke of green, a hint of white
sets you straight from left to right
the smallest print will contrive the text I write you
sometimes I feel just like a sheep
I can count on myself to get to sleep
Biblical Sense
wipe off every ounce of sweat
a cell phone keeps in touch
a hand for every inch
I guess that you’ll do in a pinch
I’m glad that you are anyone I want
until my eyes remind me just who you are
the chest in the bedroom
the lip of the dresser
tied to the arm of a chair you undress her
the legs on the table
the hands on the watch
the belt on the nightstand waits to be notched
Dressing Out
you expect me to disrobe and expose myself
don the school colors like everyone else
remove the cloth I’m using to define myself
I’m stressing out about dressing out
stretching in formation is embarrassing
it’s like training for a war with the olympic team
no dog tags just our name written in sharpie
I’m stressing out about dressing out
dressed like a team without the sportsmanship
I’m often poked and prodded but never picked
I’ve gotten good at writing notes that say I’m sick
I’m stressing out about dressing out
the dust from the track permeates my clothes
an arbitrary trip through the cosmos
running for reasons only god knows
I’m stressing out about dressing out
you push us through walls we don’t want to break
are you trying to teach us or fix your own mistakes
the tan line on your finger says Mrs. Matthews was no saint
I’m stressing out about dressing out
Touch your toes
touch your, toes, hello
i need a favor, do as I say
be on your best behavior
maybe we can coax a soul
to be our dance partner
maybe with some grace this time
we’ll move just right
stand on your mark, the whistle blows
work it all out,
1 2 3, 1
1 2 3, 2
1 2 3, 3
1 2 3, 4
clap your, hands, goodbye
you’ve dropped the ball for the last time
you left me hanging on the pull-up bar
maybe if i lift some weights you’ll be much stronger
maybe if we wait it out you’ll be too slow
Last One Picked
the last one picked is never that
you’re left over cause nobody wanted you, needed you, at all
get used to it, life isn’t beautiful
a series of downs and downs while looking up, down, around
you may excel in arithmetic but on the field it’s not the same, new, warm
left on your own, you’d rather sing a song
romantic thoughts compound the matrices, interest, fractures
Running the Mile
true revolution with no resolution
all laps are equal, no endings only sequels
a cavalcade of snapshots is all we get
a running theme of drawbacks and missteps
arms up and chest out, ignore pain in your side
with laser focus, targeting higher markers
the carrot starts to rot as time goes by
shoelaces become untied
Coach Matthews (the locker room)
Coach Matthews the world’s let you down hasn’t it
the girls in the locker room could have been yours
Coach Matthews the world’s passed you by hasn’t it
the girls in the locker room should have been yours
peeking over and upside down magazine
mischievous if not obscene
the shower won’t make you feel clean, ooh
former athlete, most popular kid on and off your feet
potential incarnate to say the least
kinetic short fall from a bum knee, ooh
//
based on recent developments in your eye movements
sexuality is a question to your
you find yourself guessing and the students do too, ooh
Oddo Tune (theme from oddoland)
slowly drudging forward, increments of half a step
marching ever further, from a scheme we never had
falling prey to certain circumstances ‘hind our eyes
will ain’t free if any, ‘cause we’re robots in disguise
man the game is tough, sure wish I could beat it
maybe if we try we can all defeat it
we’re gonna win we’re gonna win we’re gonna
we can’t lose if we choose to make our own rules
True Type
a bold statement in true type font
printed on paper and stapled to a tree
the letters tell me what she wants
a number series to bring with me
the words that she used describe all of me
like to a tee
more perfect matches I’d like to see fit all of me down to a tee
no faith in fate but it’s gotta be all of me like to a tee
no faith in fate but it’s gotta be
//
you’re happy ‘til you look around
so you tear them down
that I called to leave a message to say
Lucid Dream
I dreamt about you last night and thanks for all your kind words
as soon as I heard them I knew it wasn’t real
lucid dreams are precious so I thank you for your courage
you went ahead and kissed me to prove it wasn’t real
juvenile delinquency has gotten the best of me
I ruled you out but you pulled me in
my beauty stops where yours begins
I had a dream about you, and thank you for the kind words
as soon as I heard them I knew it wasn’t real
lucid dreams are precious so I thank you for your courage
you went ahead and kissed me to prove it wasn’t...
leather-bound books, rich mahogany
nice clothes to wear, whenever I’m asleep
it’s all thanks to you for bein’ in my dreams
but when we’re awake you speak too honestly
last night I dreamt about you and I thanked you for your whispers
as soon as I heard them I knew it wasn’t real
I often dream about you but it turns into a nightmare
as soon as I realize that none of it is real
none of it was real
I can’t say how I feel but all I can say is
thank you
La Petite Vie
it’s nothing mystical
it’s purely physical
but that’s price you pay
if you want to play
it’s not a miracle
it’s purely physical
but that’s the price you pay
when you want to play
if I weren’t so young
I’d know to bite my tongue
but that’s your job and half the fun
day dreaming without the sun
a kill is a kill for the thrill or not
end the little life when it gets too hot
but that’s your job and half the fun
day dreaming without the sun
//
Mustn't Behave
glass house
stone’s throw
right from where the weeds grow
could be someone you know
right side of what’s left
wonder who will be next
could be someone you know
catch a bouquet of forget-me-nots
turn and run right to an astronaut
he’s saving the date
time ain’t so kind
it’s like a tape you can’t rewind
bet you knew that all the time
money ain’t so kind
it’s like some paper you can’t find
bet you knew that all the time
catch a bouquet of forget-me-nots
turn and run right to an astronaut
he’s saving the date
mustn’t behave like they tell you to
that’s just what an animal would do
we mustn’t behave
The Wallflowers
she contorts, he conforms, and now they move together
twisting souls ‘gainst the ground
not talking god but leather
maybe the last thing they needed was something but that’s just what they got so man here goes nothin’
they make shapes, ripples wake only in four dimensions
an escape I gather as being their intention
they look like they just got out of a prison where singing and dancing were strictly forbidden
mystified, how it flies
think we should make decisions
knives are dull, glasses off
they’re lacking the precision
baby the last thing they needed was something so he goes and she stays so this won’t mean nothing
if we had stayed bench, left our thirst unquenched, what would we have to show
but with some movement, tempo improvement
you’ll be headed home, right before you know
Contrary to Popular Belief.
the light and shadow of your hair
as you carry on up there
no refunds I take it
glass-bottom boat, can’t fake it
don’t care about your son
I just came here to have some fun
selfish I know, but your history in a tourist trap is no vacation to me
no cameras, just eyes here
just give me the sign dear
cause I’m not the only one who just came here to have some fun
selfish I know, but your history in a tourist trap is no vacation to me
try spending time with your family
came all this way just to talk to me
Ana
if you hear us knocking
please don’t let us in
we don’t need your certificates
even if we say we do, we don’t
I grew up on a farm / man you had it tough
I grew some southern charm / it never was enough
I sounded the alarm / they really took it rough
I’d ask somebody why but it’s always just because
Bangalore
Bangalore, c’mon get down to the dance floor
The Bangalore race course off Chikka Pete street
the drifter said that’s where we’ll meet
you pull ahead a little and I doubt myself a lot
I know I’ll never catch you but the chase is all I’ve got
Devil May Care
devil may care if you do or not
she wants you
grains of rice in a stewing pot
she needs you
devil may have bigger fish to fry
she wants you
can’t see much with a prize sized eye
she needs you
devil may stall when she’s taking kind
she wants you
run right out if you pay no mind
she needs you
an argument started
a committee was chaired
devil may have spoken
no one cared
A Million Little Pieces
I’m gonna live until I don’t
forever’s too long
I’d rather be alone
as some might say I’m a cold hearted one
I’ve taken your name
as well as your face
right out of my mind
not even a trace
it’s like I said I’m a cold hearted one
I’m warning you
when time is up I’m down
to split into a million pieces
each one smaller than the last
I’m warning you
when time is up I’m down
to split into a million pieces
each one smaller than the last
you better get yours now
they’re really moving fast
I’m pretty sure you knew it even though I never asked
I’m glad that this is something cause nothing ever lasts
Passersby
no longer that doe-eyed cow in a japan shop
999 yard stare just ain’t enough
just one voice as far as you can tell
filling locks in the eerie canal
it’s something that I hear a lot
what once was now is not
it’s something that I see a lot
what once was now is not
Mornin’ Sicknes’
a shotgun wedding in an off-white dress is the hurricane your love-life needed
waist deep in wasted time you grab onto his business tie
and pull him down so you can stand up
sunday morning’s good for breakups
tear off your clothes
for a bath
turn down the lights
your bedtime’s passed
answer the phone it’s one a.m.
just called to say he won’t be home again
//
outside the house the rings come off
they live in pockets where it’s dark and warm and soft
Unreasonable
I just want a girl who doesn’t like me to like me
for what I’ve got, not what I’m not
is that so unreasonable
a girl with her glass half full
maybe she’s unsure of everything just like me
a little kid with a broken id
is that unbelievable
that a girl like that would exist in my world
Older Hands
in older hands the flow of sand seems to get faster
time ticks away at a rapid pace on to disaster
just because you have good taste doesn’t mean that you taste good
if ordinary men could go back don’t you think they would
the ripple that you make is no earthquake but it doesn’t matter
a little buzz started just because of a paintbrush spatter
and all the while you’ve grown attached to all the things you love
but someday you’ll be washed away with all the other suds
I won’t regret any time that I’ve spent with you
I’ll catch my breath when we’ve run out of things to do together
Flapping Mouth
don’t leave your shoes untied before you run a marathon
your laces find a way to trip you up
the pavement is harder than any test you had in school
chop down the tree you carved your name into to mark that day
the leaves that gave you shade have blown away
the treetops are higher than you could get to chemically
make your bed and clean your room, someone somewhere loves you
rest your head I’ll be home soon, take you somewhere lovely
take out the paragraph about how much you hate yourself
the public has a way of tuning out that stuff it’s all white noise
it’s not a secret in a flapping mouth
something’s wrong / a problem
I feel fine / that’s a problem
what’s on your mind / a big problem
just nevermind / not a problem
Tipsy Dancer
if it weren’t for alcohol I wouldn’t dance at all
ass planted on the wall from doors to last call
walk in and see a sea of cloth and skin
head to the bar, wet my lips before I wade in
shrug off a slew of men and some women
I couldn’t dance with them in the condition I’m in
//
my car keys leave my hand and end up in the pocket on the better half of my better half
too drunk to drive, drunk enough to have fun
I’d rather sway my shoulder than to swerve into one
if it weren’t for alcohol I wouldn’t dance at all / I wouldn’t dance I wouldn’t
ass planted on the wall from doors to last call / I wouldn’t dance I wouldn’t
rum and coke one, not having fun
rum and coke two, starting to move
rum and coke three replaced by rum shots
drinks four, five, six, seven and I’m ready to rock
if it weren’t for alcohol I wouldn’t dance at all / I wouldn’t dance I wouldn’t
ass planted on the wall from doors to last call / I wouldn’t dance I wouldn’t
if it weren’t for alcohol I wouldn’t dance at all / I really think I shouldn’t
ass planted on the wall from doors to last call / below .08 I couldn’t
**hold me closer tipsy dancer**
4 versus 3
I like but don’t need money
teach me to fish I’m hungry
drip dried and rung out, tongue tied and strung out
no use giving up
lip locked and empty
hands held pretending no one’s giving up
a sip of crystal waters redraws the maps for daughters
excerpt redacted
page turns only reveal more black lines
titles embossed and gold-leafed on every volume’s spine
Unemployed American
my invention contacts unemployed americans and teaches them how to use their synthesizer
demonstrate what to do
synthesize a better you
silver gold tin and copper
this girl is dancing just try and stop her
vinyl pleather velveteen
this girl is in love with her music machine
Want to Live
it’s not that I want to live I’m just afraid to die
an unsupported file on god’s hard drive
more like a grain of sand than a unique snowflake
nobody calls me up unless it’s by mistake
it’s not that I want to live I’m just afraid to die
low on accomplishments, lousy with good advice
brains without beauty is it’s own kind of curse
a sense of humor only makes it worse
what are you more, in love with life or scared of death
Life on a String
dressed in black with fashion hair
eyes glazed over to show that you don’t care about a goddamned thing
your life on a string
the scissors and the compass are just out of reach
chocolate liqueur poured gently on manure
won’t help to mask the taste of cutting your nose to spite your face
your little gummy bears turn into sour patch kids
firing jell-o shots in the dark until my boat fell of the grid
//
just in case you thought I was getting in your way
the receipt in my pocket says you’ve been holding your sandbag since the first day
hands in your pockets with greasy hair
eyes on the floor to show that you don’t care about a goddamned thing
your heart’s on a string
the scissors and the compass are just within reach
ƒonecall ƒrom the ƒuture
I asked the numbers to comfort you but they wouldn’t hear me out
the operator was so confused he hung up on herself
she knows the moves, now he does too
phone call from the future, it must be my kid
call me just to tell me all the things I never did
I begged for information on what I would become
just called to say sorry, what more are you looking for
I left a message to comfort you but at some point it cut out
the signal router was so confused ‘til it’s circuits all blew out
we needed tools and years of schools
responsibility substitute in a nifty plastic case
radiation pours over you as if we were sunbathing on the moon
we’ll be home soon
Sweet Release
it’s not from lack of want that we want what we don’t need
we cash our measly pittance and live out no one’s dream
the glass may be half full but it may not be enough
our clouds have pewter lining and our cornfed meat is tough
we get to our so-called careers on the backs of dinosaurs
who died before adam arrived
supposedly of course
a carpenter named Jesús can’t earn a living wage
so he donates to his church in hopes that he’ll be saved
no scientist or clergyman can say for sure how it will end
the sweet release that we’re given, the only truth to believe in
our furniture’s disposable, our food is permanent
we have no long term memories that aren’t stored on a disk
our irony is ironic and our anarchy defined
we’d trade it all for nothing
it happens all the time
no love lost between lovers a good fifty percent
our parents shared a promise that we live to resent
we pass on all our troubles, intentional or not
some say we never knew it, I say we just forgot
no scientist or clergyman can say for sure how it will end
the sweet release that we’re given, the only truth to believe in
no violence or spoken word, is half as loud as the unheard
the sweet release we are given, the only truth to believe in
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