Red gingham on jam pots
Wax lids preserving the berry
Tattered lace and old spots
Labels for black cherry.

Strawberries with leaves left on
Cups of tea with cream in
All the nice jam has gone
But there are biscuits in the tin.

Crumbs left on top when cakes took
pride of place after they were made
There is jam around his face look
Do you think the evidence will fade?

No because he has jam all over his top
and there is a smile on his jammy face
He keeps eating them, no signs he will stop
when there are jam tarts all over the place.

Red gingham on the table cloth freshly laid
jam pots with strawberries now preserved.
All the sugar used up, jam for the year made
get your hands off, that *** is reserved!

I've got the skin of a sweet potato in my bed
Suckling sweet summer tired eyes
I caught a lightning bug in my hand
I wanted to capture its glory with my camera lens
I opened the palm of my hand
Thought it was gone, gone
But it hid in the crevices of my fingers
Its light calmly turned off
Only to fly away
I ran and began to sweat into the Chicago night sky.

I talk to myself when I think I'm alone
Reflecting back on the lady I was this time
Last year, cherishing my off days
"Just as I like to think of you"
So sweet, so true
But simply not for me.

Mama told me
She said she was so moved
Making eyes cry
I tear up at the most random times
'Cuz I just can't believe it all.

I keep my hands to myself
Lets frolic in the forest
I wanna come back a new woman
Its just time.

I'll follow you
(You seem to know
    where you're going)

I'll chase you
(You've got speed)

As long as I'm not forced to
(play this
     game with you)

And later
I might even get loose with you
(You know
    where to park)

I'm running out of memories
Of you.

Don't love me.

I love in the form of
Sobs and shakes.

I build up affection
Then I rip you open
And I tear out your heart
And feed on your feelings.

I'm a monster.
And a coward.
And if I can't have you
I'll leave you heartless
Just like me.

"What?
What are these streaming down my cheeks?
Are... are these tears?"

Yes, today, I cried for the first time
The first time in years
I felt grief gnawing on my stomach
I felt hopelessness tighten my throat
My heart was ripped apart
I couldn't breathe

But why?
Why now?

I was pushed over the edge
As if all of my hidden demons
Suddenly wanted to come out and play
They heard my sighs being silenced
They knew my screams were hushed
They were the only ones to hear my cries for
Help.

Zip code 99123
Worst school systems
Boomerang effect
I know it truly is awful
It is the land of hopelessness
It sure as hell isn't
The Promised Land
But blue skies
Grey clouds
Hot summers
Frozen winters
Secrets
Community
Love
Lies
Jealousy
Complete bliss
Tied in with a blanket of anguish
Settled like dust
Those who live here
Those who leave here
Those who always return here
Remember
Forget
Either way you can't change
The history of our hearts
It can be hellish
It can be worthless
And true, there is absolutely nothing going for anyone here
But it will always be my hometown
Electric City
Zip code 99123
Just above the ****** dam
Because my home
Is where my memories
Of lessons learned lies