Lamplight

STILL HAVE TIME FOR IT

i’m known by your name
helps me close my tab out

we share four tattoos
and fifteen years
but they might make it longer

time has no remorse
just get your lovin’ in

made my bed today
i used all my might
sparing no expense
tuck the corners just right

‘cause i still got
the time for it

PORTAL TO AUGUST

there’s herbs in the front
they need your touch
loquat’s round the back
there’s grass to cut back

harley grace won’t come in
door is cracked till she will
then there’s the mail to reign in
trace my smell you’ll find it

there’s a snake in the yard
it was back, she could walk
i can see the green
of the rug, memory

there’s a golden string
round my neck
if i speak maybe it
carries back

RING STAINS

staring at the table long enough it might
have a couple ring stains on it that’s fine
i don’t even remember who it was drinking wine
spill another glass who gives a shit it dries

dancing in the new house now it’s quiet
i can see my friends’ kids grow up i might
have couple new wrinkles on my smile
spill another glass who gives a shit it dries

wading in the river every sunday, divine
i can see the next 10 years now it’s hot
i just get to be happy now that’s wild
spill another glass who gives a shit it dries

SUNSET

right about sunset
getting pretty tired
how about you

cooking from the garden
gotta rinse my hands off
before i do

hear a bird singing
oh that’s you

droppin out

thinking about leaving
sky’s pretty in pink so
i won’t move

pantry’s got peanuts
i don’t really need much
cook with what i’ve got
what i do

droppin out

DANCING IN THE LEAVES

fig tree’s overgrown i steal a few
wish i could be sharing them with you
their skin is softening

i take them with some salt how do you?
i hope that i can love how you do
my skin is softening

i take you without pause, same as you
i want your warmth at night, in morning too
my skin is softening

been ripening for years now, seems for you
pick me off and take me home to you
my skin is softening

cut me down and slice me
drip me down your neck please
grow me again and find me
i’m right there dancing in the leaves

CHEERS TO DEATH AND DYING

you meet me at home because i can’t
see where she sleeps without crying
your mom almost died this week, bryan
we walk down the street where we try and

talk about think about
wonder about sing about

sally’s still here but her kin ain’t
he died on his bicycle last week
we sat for five hours on saturday
i’m so thankful to wake and

talk about think about
wonder about sing about

i hope my old patterns can die with
my marriage i don’t have a use for them
cheers to death and dying
i still have the presence of mind to

talk about think about
wonder about sing about

SOFT SPOTS

have me in the parking lot
air feels good on all my soft spots
portal from the past
three four leaf clovers pressed

lake is choppy today
watch me practice diving anyway
i could fuck my tears away
but the water cools my face

make me feel like a love like mine ain’t so lonely
in this life just the one maybe sharing it is holy (is the point?)

haven’t felt this opened up
since the mushroom basement
love drips thick like velvet
with no end in there waiting

BYWATER

every song is the same one
dreamed the same, one where it rained again

suppers goin, made that fish again
radio plays, of course you know this one

cameras gone, but the memory ain’t
singing oak, plays happy birthday
as it sways

we part ways, i hum your song til then
tender heart, opens at 5. and when
you find your seat, this rounds on me.

JUNK MAIL

sipping my shame out my coffee cup
keeping my tail tucked
i need my nails cut

sitting my idle bones upright
caring about my
neighbor not my pride

hiding behind splinters in my side
screen door won’t open right
junk mail that piles high
weathers not on my side

quitting time won’t offer a life line
already got one
use it or don’t hon

sitting by the giving tree, fruit wine
canyon a laugh line
river a sweat vein
i am of her and she is me

LAST ROOM

it’s the last room we share
four by four square
fifty bucks a month
christmas decorations
6529 door code if that’s still right

i still have the key

would you pull the door up for me
look at the little left
could have thrown it out
but who would cherish that

all that’s still intact

what do you still want back
chairs, your name, yoga mat

the love i can’t give back
don’t have the key for that

ALTAR

meet me at 8:30
who am i kidding more like 8:40
took some shots by 10:30
decree should be done in 30

thanks for making that pretty painless, you said
told you i wished your dad happy birthday, you said the same
talked about each other’s bully
you said you felt the same

then i cracked cause you’re nosey
asked about my life
but i don’t mind because you love me
maybe this time you won’t hurt me

thanks for making that pretty painless
haven’t we had enough already
you said you felt the same

we’ll meet again to sign these
i keep my bottle here to remind me
a dried flower in it as an altar
you said you’d do the same

MAPLE’S BIRTHDAY

i woke up about 12 o’clock
went out to a bar my dad went to

maybe i’ll stop drinking a lot
drowning out whatever it is

on the porch that’s on my arm
inside waiting for maples birthday cake

maybe i’ll start writing it down
don’t wanna forget whatever it is

MEND IT WITH GOLDEN THREAD

i’ll save the seeds if you teach me to grow em
hole in my pants could show me to sew them
tires flat but you know how to fix that too
if you got some gold use it you can make it new

all it takes is care to stitch it back together and a hand or two

i’ll say sorry with my voice steady
open my heart soft and heavy
balance before it gets unsteady
mend it with golden thread i’m ready

all it takes is care to stitch it back together and a hand or two

FAMILY

looks are deceiving
appears i lost it

aunt lorraine
didn’t leave
hosted thanksgiving

just like me
chosen family

that don’t break
just gets stronger

i twist and turn
hair gets longer

but i won’t cut it
not ties that bind
not bridges burned
won’t leave her behind

how long do i have
have you packed your bags

looks like this is the last
time i rub your back

scratch my head
kiss my chest
fuck me next
its the last

for now, for awhile

"not a threat
that's a promise
to myself"

there’s the light, not do i lack
have my health in tact

on loan, i’ll give it back
‘fore i’m done with that:

scratch her head
kiss her neck
love her friends
pay it back

drink too much
laugh a lot
till it hurts
that’s the point

lend a hand
skinny dip
let the juice
drip down your wrist

"not a threat
that's a promise
to myself"

10 feet in and i’m falling farther
happily meet my mother and father
sisters gonna be there that’s where you’ll meet her first

i’ve fallen in
stomach in my chest
amber in the dirt
it doesn’t hurt

i don’t mind calling all the time

7 days in and i want you in my chest
clear a space off at the table
haven’t even cooked together yet
but i’m sure we will when we’re able

i’ve fallen in
hands over my head
take a deep breath
and jump

i don’t mind, water seems fine

haven’t heard from you in days
i’m not scared

that i’ll get to touch your face again
smell your hair

i’ve lived a lot don’t get to tell you all

don’t matter none
all that does
is the love

is your yard still full of clover
and white oak

i never minded when it rained
my shirt soaked

call me when you catch your breath again
don’t say much
i’ll know it was
was the love

lick the spoon and let it soften
it’ll melt

you don’t need another mouthful
draw it out

all you need you’ve already gotten
on your tongue
you’ll know it was
was the love

stay up late again it’s fine
trading sleep for your smile
i’ve been staring for a while

there it lies
by my side
darlin sized

i’m your penpal and you’re mine
trading love with my time
fill your cup and you fill mine

sharing wine
up all night
morning light
i don’t mind

see you soon again in time
get some sleep and i’ll get mine
be there in the morning close your eyes

there you lie
by my side
darlin sized

have a wall up can’t be friends
don’t deserve that but my body can’t
let go of all it’s held
open up! wait you might lose your hand

that’s too fast. well what is slow?
what’s it matter glad you’re getting some
then you ask me what i’ve learned

what i know is twofold
desire can’t be owned
it flows until it’s gone it’s never told

there’s a crack it spiders past
pain and gave me my heart back
know its safe but tell my body that

what i know is twofold
desire can’t be owned
it flows until it’s gone it’s never told
to be something it’s not it comes and goes