Sweet Potatoes
I came within inches of your face
When you reached for the same side dish that I reached for
Our hands brushed upon the ladle
I politely withdrew and refrained from eating sweet potatoes
Our eyes met and for a second
We'd not been introduced, I was taken aback
You smiled, but I turned quick away
And gave myself a bruise, ‘cause I forgot to smile back
So different, now across the room
I’ve never been quite the socialite
Hey, pretty girl, I want to talk to you
I’ve been noticing you all night
I stepped outside to clear my head
When you were making your way on to the dance floor
And I wish that I smoked cigarettes
More often than I do, because I just need an excuse to stay out here
There were too many people there
Too many decibels to enjoy a decent conversation
Sure, that’s an excuse, I don’t care
The risk of being shut down’s not worth the potential jubilation
The Monument
Old Grandma never did as she was told,
She could give, but never took, a scolding,
And one day I’ll be like she was.
Her mind sadly went first, simply because
Crazy is what senility does,
So I’ll build something to remind
Me of my most important times
I waited for you to step out from behind
The curtain; my dad acted to remind
Of a day-time TV talk show host,
I thought of you as I would of a ghost:
A brother’s what I always wanted most;
Both “bitter” and “sweet” were strong,
To find out I’d had one all along.
So I raise my Ebenezer,
I know something brought me here.
Is this a life-change, or a tease, or
Is it just another year?
Here’s a monument, a token
Take a moment, let it soak in,
Got a feeling I won’t want to forget this...
We climbed up on the monument to see,
What so few had seen before, the deities
Lit this one ablaze far back.
To hide ourselves from them we dressed in black,
(Trespassing’s a crime) I’ve got a knack
For enjoying little sins,
Against authorities on little whims.
So I raise my Ebenezer,
I know something brought me here.
Is this a life-change, or a tease, or
Is it just another year?
Here’s a monument, a token
Take a moment, let it soak in,
Got a feeling I won’t want to forget this...
Time, I have found to waste it is a crime
Against your posterity, but I’m
Such a foolish man fighting my fear,
That I’ll amount to nothing while I’m here,
That everything I do is just a teardrop
In the massive ocean;
I’d do great things if I could just begin.
Little Significance
Little significance, stay out of my life,
I want to mean something to somebody when I die
Mild sufficiency, “I did the right thing,”
If I were never born would it have changed anything?
Think I’ll tear this city down;
It’s not set up the way I want it.
Grow a new one from the ground
With water, seeds, and the sun shining on it.
How amazing! See its birth?
Perhaps from here I’ll found a nation!
Buildings made of trees and earth,
And better public transportation!
Vanity, vanity, I can’t help myself
I do what I do, pursuing glory and wealth
Vanity, vanity, the things I’ve long sought
I do what I do because it’s what I’ve been taught.
Bartender! Another round!
We’ll have a good time while we’re able!
The thoughts I’ve been tossing around
Are becoming more and more unstable!
I’ll sit back, let the world spin;
There’s nothing I can do about it.
How it works, to my chagrin,
Leaves me little room to doubt it
Don’t need me.
Don’t worry,
I’ll be fine.
I’ll find something,
(or I‘ll just make something up).
Safety and providence up on a cliff,
Is it truth or fiction down there in the abyss?
Sanity, sanity, come when you’re called!
If it were just that simple, perhaps I’d risk a fall.
Here I go.
Don’t yet follow.
Soon I’ll hit.
I’ll let you know.
