there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I'm not going
to let anybody see
you.
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pur whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the ****** and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he's
in there.

there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to ***** up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?
there's a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I'm too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody's asleep.
I say, I know that you're there,
so don't be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he's singing a little
in there, I haven't quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it's nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don't
weep, do
you?

You know, it's funny how a person can change their style and lose their grace,
They drop their old familiar face and zip a new one back on.

But the zipper is obvious
Nothing but cartoon character on your T.V. set.
Killing children's dreams and wishing upon a star.

All mixed up and upside down, but the puzzle piece was right where you left it. The picture is complete.
I mean.
It looks complete.

The salamander sitting on your windowsill crawls in and out of sight until he sets up camp in your bed and doesn't move for another three years.
Even after you call exterminators, the ******* thing won't die.

You close your eyes to try to run, but your friend has been hiding behind the curtains,
Waiting for your sign so they can escape too.

The puzzle smashes to the floor,
Something rolls under the bed,
The salamander attaches itself to your ear,
A child unzips your costumes and exposes you for the regular human you are.
They scream.

Then everything is black and there's nothing but your breathing in the night.

And you wake up.
Well.
Then you try to wake up.
Then you lay there.

A sharp pin in your side....
Huh.
There's that missing piece.

You wake up.