You've made it clear, your intentions
nearly breaking every tooth
that's rattled long in a grin that's gone
and fallen out of use
Short of making an arrow-straight escape
below a cough
I couldn't say that you've found yourself a gait
for walking off
There's a reason to stay in the weeds
and as long as you're laughing
and seeking them out
You can come and go as you please
and know that you're only
as tall as you sound
Put your shovels down now and tell me what you're worth
by beating blue
every inch of too-forgiving earth
for giving through
He's happy being a nickel to your purse
and living to, and living to
see the day that you count yourself for worse
and send him deep
into the water
They never keep, the faces that you seek
and you can hardly calm them or tease a smile
out of what will never hold a crease
(though it couldn't hurt to palm them
the smallest while)
I could try and round up the darlings
that we sent to play
but they're only ours when
they're far away
It's a lying tongue that lifts you high
It's only as strong as you are light
and eager to buy
what's yours to take
(I heard foolish girls
grow shorter
by the
day)
There's a saying that sounds in the deep
You know, you know
but you want to be told
what was playing that drew you to sleep
but nothing to speak of has pulled on your lobes,
and nothing to speak of has left you alone