The dawn chorus says: "Go to bed"

Sleep child, dream away,
Ignore the world and slip away,
Until the new day.

Summer feels like too many songs,
Like falling in love twice in one night,
Like smiling for a photograph,
Like an act.

It feels like one big show to prove a point,
Like making up for the winter months,
Like pretending to be happy,
Like we're not.

It feels like putting flowers at a grave,
Like running from mistakes all over again,
Like cleaning the house for when the relatives come over,
Like hiding the truth.

The smell is choking,
Right in my lungs,
I can't see a thing,
Just grey and flame,
I can hardly breathe,
And the world is turning black,
And all sound falls away,
And only "Run!" screams through my head,
So I do,
Like a coward,
Like a fool,
I could have stopped it,
But now the fire's caught,
And nothing's left to go back to

Touch the dark,
Let it wash over your hands,
Feel its icy breath on your skin,
And leave a shining dew,
Listen as the night trickles through your fingers,
As gentle drops of midnight fall from your hands,
Catching the light of a billion stars in its surface,
Ripples of the breeze pass across the ebony,
Stirring waves to sing,
And softly fill up the silent hours.

A tiny drop lands on her back,
Her dark feathers locked together,
Forming a tight armour,
She shakes gently,
The water rolls away,
Trickling down,
Joining the million that make up the lake,
That shimmer with the evening sun.

We know we have to hide
Every time we go outside
Just because we're the only ones like us
And we don't know who's on our side

And we've waited far too long
To stand up and say it's wrong
So now it's time to speak up and draw the line
Break the walls and sing our own song

We've put up with a world of hate
People think that that's okay
When we try to fight for our own side
We're the enemy, people say

But who we are will never change
What we believe will never fade
We've come so far, we're here to stay
We'll be free

We won't lose heart, we're not afraid
We just want the right to stay the same
Show our love in our own way
Love is all we need

I am afraid.
I see no sense denying,
For ignoring weakness makes me no stronger,
Instead I embrace it,
I know I am afraid,
But fear has a purpose,
It protects me and keeps me reasonable,
Keeps me rational,
Fear fueled my escape from pain,
And fear teaches me to avoid it again,
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
Yes, fear is love,
The kind of love that keeps its children from harm,
I am afraid,
But I am better for it.

Those eyes look back at me,
Softer than I remember,
Brighter than I thought.

That slight smile I've wanted for so long,
Smiles back at me,
Lips shining where the light catches them.

My skin looks just smooth enough,
My jaw not so harsh,
My cheeks pale.

My head tilted at just the right angle,
My hand in just the right place,
And for that moment I can truly believe:
I am pretty.

I play along,
My notes fitting almost perfectly,
Half a breath out of time, but ringing true,
I could turn off the recording,
Play it all myself,
And no difference would be heard,
But for my fingers slipping,
And playing unintentional grace notes,
Styled out but there,
And I know they're there,
But perhaps they should stay.