“universal”

fingerprints in the sand
your echoing voice from another land
telling me to dance while I still can
because life’s trying to make me into a man

hearts that make the moments matter
waves hitting rocks start to shatter
thought I knew you, but I should have known better
we hide from ourselves, like we hide from bad weather

extrication from the world’s webs
brains begin to blossom inside our empty heads
the living look deader than the dead in their beds
try to keep Love hidden, but it’s the law that goes unsaid

bodies remain blurry behind the floating gas
we stare like we know each other, still too afraid to ask
go ahead and smile, take off your broken mask
see the light that’s always blaring inside everyone’s past
     --april 19, 2003