#lyricsonly

I’m surprised to see my face in caricature covering so many pages in the keepsake you hide under the covers

the powers would confiscate destroy your hieroglyphs invent another condition to hold you so far from home

your hands are clean innocent violet marker miming my odi et amo onto your own knuckles a much more painless option I never considered

I clutch you on the sterile bed blankets too thin in triplicate bleach blue like the rag stuffed into the crack of your door

February chill creeps in

I have missed the scent of your hair in my lungs the warmth of your hands clutching mine the whitehot heat of your tears as you beg again again again to come home

we’ve been here before visits split divorced holidays ten-minute phone calls hour long drives through snow rain sun

the thin lines on your arms your legs your heart scarring over while you wait to hear when you’ll be free again

here once was a safe harbor in the storm of adolescence from all the broken things you’ve inherited from me

you ask me if I’ve been crying like you’ve been crying alone in the dark without your cat without anyone that cares beyond indemnity what the result of these hollow days may be

what can I do but hold you all the tighter kiss your crown hope the pressure from my arms is enough to keep you warm tonight