Talk to me like
Minimum wage.
Three kids in different grades
happy to get sneakers on Christmas.
Two to a bed until puberty
hoping bus fare doesn’t go up.

Talk to me like
I’m sorry I can’t hear you
I’m scared that I’m pregnant and what my boyfriend will do
because I don’t want to marry him
but if you’re pregnant you keep it and you marry him.

Talk to me like
Can I help you?
I’ll trade you for some tuition money.

Talk to me like
Let me go check in the back
My brother’s in jail again
because he broke into our house to steal money
and he’s high again and it’s his fault
but it’s Dad’s fault for leaving.

Talk to me like
I’m sorry
I apologize
What can I do
Here’s a discount
Like she cheated
Like he’s dead
Like I’m you
in my shoes.

Curing my depression
cured my alcoholism
which cured my creativity
which cured my happiness
which cured my sobriety
and then nothing

All alone is all we are. And a little voice inside says don’t look back. You can never look back. Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run. Run, to the middle of nowhere. To the middle of my frustrated fears and I swear… By the moon and the stars in the sky, I’ll be there. I wanna get me a little oblivion baby, and try to keep myself away from me. Cause I’m my own worst enemy. And everything falls apart then I try to put it back together. But maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me…
Here comes the sun. I don’t need no arms around me. And it’s alright. And I don’t need no drugs to calm me. It’s been a long cold lonely winter. I have seen the writing on the wall. And I say it’s alright. Don’t think I need anything at all.
A long, long time ago, I can still remember December promise you gave unto me. And you’re so vain but that’s what I like about you. You always were the one to show me how. And she says that love is for fools that fall behind and I’m somewhere between. My brown eyed girl. But that’s how it goes. Why you wanna hide it? It’s the one thing we can choose…
This is how I show my love. And I swear to this. This is how an angel cries. She felt like velvet. Blame it on my ADD, baby. And she comes to take me away. Sail with me into the dark. She’s all that I needed.
Follow me into the desert and you’ll see me, half the man I used to be. But all we need is just a little patience and all that glitters is gold but it doesn’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. So hang down your head, little Darlin’, lying awake, intently tuning in on you. And feel the rhythm take hold, those good, good, good, good vibrations. Cause every little thing is gonna be alright. With or without you.
Wish you were here.

And here I am again, holding my breath on the wrong end of a phone line that just rings. Where are you? I just wanted to hear your voice before I went to sleep.
And now I fear I shall never sleep. My mind is shaking violently and my body has started to follow. I can feel the heat of the tears building behind my eyes, painful and bitter. I bite back on my tongue to keep the moans from coming, and whimper instead.
How could I let you bring me to this again, after everything? What a fool I have been to allow myself to fall prey to your words, lulling me into submission with your sirens call. If this all seems familiar, my Friend, it is because it is. All too familiar.
Maybe if I try again? Maybe she was just away from the phone or the ringer was silent… But there is just the ringing again, and each tone sounds more like a cold laugh than the one before it. I should not let myself feel this way. There is no reason. There is no reason. But that doesn’t make it go away and it doesn’t end the ringing and it doesn’t quiet the laughter and it doesn’t set my heart at ease…
Where are you? Why aren’t you answering? Is someone there with you? I wish it was me, because I live for the sound of your laugh but I don’t want to feel this way ever again because this is how I'm always left when I give what's left to you! Alone in the dark, waiting to hear your voice….