if i was less of a hypocrite
i suppose i would not have gotten in this deep
sink or swim, do or die
i might have been able to sleep
last night, if i was less of a hypocrite
if i was less of a hypocrite
i would not have presumptuously told you
not to frivolously spend your friendship
while i tried to write up a list of people
who would even be willing to converse with me
if i was less of a hypocrite
i would not have matter-of-factly implied that you
didn't go to bed early enough to sleep properly
since i was staying up to write this poem
and wouldn't turn of the lights 'till midnight
if i was less of a hypocrite
i would not have warned you against swimming too far
as i stroked out to the boats without thinking
with hardly any strength to make it back
(my brother said i almost drowned)
if i was less of a hypocrite
i would not have told you to love every bit of yourself
no matter what anyone else will say
because, my friend, i don't even like myself
can't even look myself in the eyes sometimes
if i was less of a hypocrite
maybe i'd still be around for you
because i wouldn't have gone out after ten
to buy some chips from the 7/11
and i would have been at home in the morning
if i was less of a hypocrite
maybe you'd actually be able to trust my judgement
and the silky words that slip out of my mouth
'cause then my actions would reflect my words
and i could possibly be considered a decent human being
if i was less of a hypocrite
i suppose i would not have gotten in this deep
sink or swim, do or die
i might have been able to sleep
last night, if i was less of a hypocrite
h.f.m.