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1. |
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I disturb birds
with my breath.
They startle; dart away,
land-not far enough.
I keep coming.
They squawk, take off again,
then land above,
watch as I pass.
I'm chomping at the bit,
prancing sideways.
I'm puffed with freedom,
fat with promise.
I scare deer
with my steps.
Heads quickly raise-
stare me down.
I keep coming.
one stamps a warning,
then drops its head-
when I'm barely past.
Give me my head,
I want free rein
to jump the fence,
shake my mane.
But where would I go?
I'm a slave to my nature.
Am I a predator or prey?
Something or nothing?
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2. |
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I wonder why you are so in demand
You wonder why I’m so out of hand
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3. |
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What's in the pocket
of your suitcase?
What's in the suitcase
in your pocket?
Why are you waiting?
Where are you heading?
What are you taking there
Into the clearing?
Hidden, heavy and harmful
Miserable, moist, and mangled
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4. |
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Don't keep it waiting
on the table.
It’s hot and steaming.
Should we come now?
Pound of bacon, side of beef
Garlic, mushrooms, onion, cheese-
pressure cooking's obsolete
Don't you know we use sous vide?
Drown the meat in water
and set the perfect temperature-
it should be so easy
Don't go to any trouble.
You really shouldn't
work so hard.
You deserve it,
sit right down.
No don't get up.
Just relax.
Let us take over.
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5. |
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Yeah I should have known,
should have known the night we met
the night that we were marching,
signs held high
that what we had would never last
But how could I have seen
just who you really were
through the sirens smoke and noise
outside the shopping mall riot
The way you looked at me that night
the invitation was painfully clear
No you didn't have to say it out loud
Yeah I should have known better
than to ask to take you home
Yeah I should have known -- yeah i should have kept quiet
If we should fall
back into each others’ arms
would it be so wrong?
If we should fall
back into each others’ arms
whose fault would it be?
I see you still have feelings for me
When I first saw you, I knew you were the one- you were different- so sensitive, so aware
You were shouting as loud as we were- no, louder even
When you said you wanted to take me home, what else could I do? I wanted to reward you.
If we fall back into each other’s arms
would it be so wrong?
If we fall back into each other’s arms,
whose fault would it be?
You still have feelings for me.
The night that it was over - the night we bombed the bank
You gave away how you really felt
Though i’m sure you didn’t know… you didn’t know what you were saying
And as I watched you light the fuse, I decided, yeah I decided
That it was time to break the rules
of the game you always thought that we were playing
And that was your last chance to get it right
but that last night… you got it wrong
Yeah i’m afraid I had you right
I was right all along
The night of the bombing I saw you for who you really were- not so different, so oblivious and so sure.
I was disgusted by the smell of ashes on your skin when you kissed me, your arm so tight round my neck.
You told me it was right, we were making a difference but I knew, as I straightened my hair, that it was over
I could argue but why would I bother when I’m right.
You’re wrong.
I was right all along.
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6. |
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We gathered round you like moths to a light
You were feeling bad so we swarmed to sympathize.
I slowly moved my body to yours.
My hand reached out to stroke your back of its own accord.
I thought this was something neither of us had ever wanted,
but it was inevitable, like a reflex.
I felt the soft parts of you,
your neck, your wings, your thighs, your stomach.
We hovered
Your spouse came downstairs,
with your daughter.
We raised our heads, as your light flickered out and the heat dissipated.
I backed away from your body
and the warmth was lost in the space between us.
I watched you face him, halfway up the stairs.
He wasn't looking at you, but at your daughter.
"You are invisible, you're not the moon."
We hovered
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7. |
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In the midst of the wind,
branches spun away.
The park was empty,
you met without me.
I alienate you;
I guess I need a better disguise.
You're turning me into a misanthrope.
Weren't you supposed to love me for me?
We turned and went with the wind.
The ocean smoothed itself
the boat sped swiftly back,
but you still didn't know me.
I alienate you;
I should have a better disguise.
You're turning me into a misanthrope.
Why don't you love me for me?
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8. |
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I got a paper cut folding your origami.
It began cerulean, now it's purple.
I want to crush it,
but the color is liquid and deep.
Should I make you another?
My time is spent and
I have an imperfect product.
What can I do with the fucked up thing?
Give it, throw it, will it away.
destroy it, desert it, devalue, desecrate.
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9. |
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Why tug and tear at a plastic package?
We can free you from all that frustration
It really hurts us to see you struggle
Even though you’re beautiful when you get mad
Now there you go; you go and get all tight-lipped
You would not believe all the things gave up for you
We’ve come a long way from the desert and the jungle
We’ve got an easy-open tab for you to pull
We made it easier to open up
We made it easier to open up
So throw your scissors away
You won’t need them anymore
And now you’re running through the supermarket
Jackals and wolves bare their teeth all around you
You smell rebellion but dare not spark it
That razor blade in your hand has an ugly edge
Now we can help you cut yourself free from this
It won't hurt a bit; it won't cost a thing
You’ll just need to promise to be different
Different from the rest of them; different just like us
We made it easier to leave it on
We made it easier to leave it on
So put that razor away
You won’t need it anymore
We wrote a treaty for the vultures and jackals
On their skin, in blood of their children
Their hackles rose as they smelled us coming
Dancing our platitudinous two-step
Along the edge of an uncanny valley
Where just a little slip could send us to a broken neck
We made it easier to give it up
We made it easier to give it up
Just give your decisions away
You won’t need them anymore
They made it easier to give it up
They made it easier - so just give up
Just do whatever they say
And you’ll get your freedom back
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10. |
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I fear what your influence is doing to me dear
And I worry how you act when I'm not near
Have we both become too certain it's unclear
So I shave off all my hair
We pretend neither of us is there
As we push each other down the stairs
When it's all
Said and done
You are still just one among many
We all have our part to play in the great debate
On the treatment of things in a shared space
Things we’ve lost and things we’d hoped we could misplace
Does our jurisprudence feel
Like a hastily brokered deal
To make these fallacies seem just a little bit real?
When it’s all
Said and done
You are still just one among many
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11. |
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I wanna be your robot-
move like x and y,
no z, no z.
I never stop, I never forget.
Knock me down,
repeatedly.
Don't be afraid.
I wave; I'm friendly.
I know people
but not misery.
I never stop, I never forget.
I never shed or break or sweat,
No need to polish me.
Count 1, then 2
then 3, then 3
I fuck you;
I do as you tell me
with c, with c.
I never stop.
I never forget.
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12. |
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I've come to take the spit right from the tip of your tongue
Held tightly in the grip of my golden-tipped tongs
Come on and squeeze a little drip, a brightly glistening drop
Don't let your concentration slip--then productivity goes down.
No I don’t wanna taste your spite
I don’t have space for all that waste
And if I pull your tongue out tight
What’ll you do to make it right for me
Guess again!
Come on and guess again,
You owe us your dreams, and they’d better be right!
I’ve written a blank check
You can buy back your soul
Just take this little step
Go into a little debt
Just let me hold you close when I feel I need you most
Just let me lick the sweat from your slick, forgiving skin
Cause when I say I need you dear
Let us keep one thing clear
It’s convenience that’s king
What new ideas can you bring?
Guess again!
Come on and guess again,
You owe us your dreams, and they’d better be right!
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released December 4, 2020
