Friends leave
I get that
Nothing lasts forever

But you believed her lies about me
And that really
Hurt

Oh him?
                                                           Oh you?
What can I say about him?                                  
                                                           What can I say about you?
He's nothing to me really.
                                                           You're my everything really.
It was just a crush.
                                                           What I feel for you, I've never felt.
It was over before it started.
                                                            I hope this is just getting started.
No, I left him.
                                                            Please never leave me.
Of course we don't talk anymore.
                                                            Talking to you is my favorite part of the day.
He was ugly.
                                                            You're so gorgeous.
He was mean.
                                                            You're so sweet.
He was conceited.
                                                            No please believe me, you're wonderful.
And most importantly,
                                                            And most importantly,
I never loved him.
                                                            I love you.

And I’m afraid I can’t get out.

You see, it’s better being here
in my computer
because online I’m whoever I want to be.

In the real world there’s commitment
Here I can make a new account
You see I feel safer in here
trapped in my computer.

Help, I’m trapped in my computer,
and I’m afraid I can’t get out.

You see, the people here seem
so much more real than the ones
on my tv screen

It shows me so much fear
and hate, and lies, and a bit more
You see I feel safe in here
trapped in my computer.

Help, I’m trapped in my computer,
and I’m afraid I can’t get out.

It turns out this was not where I
should have been; they finally
found me out.

I am not who I pretended to be,
and they know it for truth.
You see, I am not safe in here,
stuck in my computer.

I never really was.

I suppose it’s best to
speak of her now;
her name only summons
ghosts and thoughts
of a woman long past.

Her name is like hands that
trace the globe of my mind
from the my brain—a small city,
public university, museums, a relic
of a war dividing country—

to her heart—a large city, the
rainiest in the country, or so they say
where we mutually met in the middle;
it was love, or at fifteen springs, I thought.

This map to her now only summons
ghosts and thoughts
of a woman long past.

I follow them through
the thruways of memories
of all she touched with her
human condition and hope that
the map leads me back to her.

It leads me to our
phone calls, where I’d sit on
the deck in just pants and drink
and she’d stand outside on her balcony
and we’d burn the mental incense of a dream
forever never coming to pass.

I suppose it’s best to
speak of her now;
her name only summons
ghosts and thoughts
of a woman long past.

The ghosts of long-lost
proclamations of love
haunt my mind.  It’s
easier for me to believe
that she never did mean it,
but at three in the morning,
I’m fond of sitting on the deck and drinking

And I burn the mental incense of a dream
never coming to pass.
And I confess none of this
as she is a ghost with only a map
but my fair Rachael, she haunts me.

It’s no longer safe
to speak her name;
it’s summoned ghosts
and thoughts
of a woman long past.

if I thought I could sing well
I would sing
but I don’t like my voice
it’s ugly
well
not ugly really
people like it
my choir director likes it
i could easily become very famous
but it’s a girl’s voice
the high notes are girl notes
the low notes are girl notes
everything about my voice screams girl
that, or 13-year-old guy
so i guess i won’t sing
besides
nobody wants to hear
mistakes

It ain't the pork, it ain't the beans
It ain't the mustard on saltines
It ain't the redneck social scenes

I love about the south

It ain't the ice cold sweet southern tea
It ain't the way that we say please
It ain't the way we lemon squeeze

I love about the south

It ain't the perfect slice of pecan pie
It ain't the wink in the bullfrog's eyes
It ain't the fireflies that light the night

I love about the south

It ain't the way we say yes ma'am
When you visit Alabam
It ain't the attitude of yes we can

I love about the south

It ain't the way that we say ya'll
With the syrupy sweet southern draw
No it ain't none of that at all

I love about the south

It's the crisp clear starry nights
Through the shifting shadows of the loblolly pine
As I stand here with your hand in mine

I love about the south

Just the fact that you are here
And that I can hold you near
As I hear you call me dear

*I love about the south