Rabo Karabekian said all our souls are neon tubes of light
If that is true
I know mine always flickers
Especially when I am scared
And if you knew Morse code
My soul would flash to you

“LOVE ME”                                                                                  

If you place your hands on my chest
You would see
My heart beats

“FREEDOM”                                                                              

The broken Braille of the goose bumps
That I get when I am cold
They say

    “HOLD ME”                                                                            

If you were blind
And you
Dragged your hands across the terrain of my face
Every pock mark and scar
Would make you think I was the moon
And when you got to my mouth
Warm from the breath I try to hold
When you’re near me
You’d realize
There really is a man in there

Underneath the warning signs
And flashes of light
When the sounds from the pleads for help stop
And you can finally hear me breathin’
You’ll see the message that I was supposed to give to you
Read what it says on my skin

“Underneath is a man                                                                        
Who keeps the dark and the stars to his back so he can always face you                              
Some days his distance feels cruel                                                          
Some days his smile is ugly                                                                  
But his heart                                                                            
When it’s not beating so hard that it’s beggin’                                              
For freedom                                                                              
It’s full of love                                                                            
There is still dust in his lungs                                                              
For he does not use his voice much                                                        
But he can hold you like a lullaby”