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Maybe You're A Songbird (For J.K.)

I'm always falling for girls who are arrows shot through the hearts of prodigal sons.

 

You've been in my head for days.

I've been clinging to your later

Like a shipwrecked sailor

Clings to the shattered bow

As the ocean tries to swallow him whole.

You swallowed me whole,

And you barely even opened your mouth;

Just wide enough for me to taste honey

And see stars that have been three nights creating haloes around my drunken head.

 

But you'll only hold my hand in the shadows;

You'll only ask me how I am if you know the answer will be

I'm fine

not

I've got you under my skin

But you're under it, girl.

You're seven layers deep,

And suddenly you're rushing through my bloodstream

And filling my body with a five-dime dream

That is only of your face.

Everyone knows that web of red veins

All lead back to the heart.

 

So I'm putting up fences

But leaving gaps between the posts

So when you’ve circulated my system

and I can feel you tingling electricity in every one of my cells

It’ll look like the bars I’ve put up were to keep you out

But really the space between was to let you in.

I’ll be shining a light so bright that maybe you’ll grow powdered wings

and flutter towards me like a moth who can’t ignore the flame for even one more second.

 

You’re more like a butterfly though.

When I look at you I see every colour;

I see grace and beauty, and in your voice I hear a melody so sweet it makes me wonder

whether you’re a girl,

Or if maybe you’re a songbird.

Maybe you build a new nest every night

From twigs and feathers and broken hearts.

 

You showed me a cutting of your old boyfriend’s hair

That you keep in your wallet

Because you dream of recreating him.

I thought if I knew how I’d make an army of this boy for you,

I’d carve his face from limestone

And give him blossoms for eyes

But I’d give him my lips,

So that when you kissed him I’d taste you.

 

And it’s not like I’d make you,

But inside my head we’re every day making each other laugh;

We’re every day running through dappled fields,

Calling each other’s names,

Smelling each other’s hair.

It’s the sweetest thing.

That’s all I really want to say

Is that you make me smile and dream,

And sometimes I’m looking at your face

For just a bit longer than you’re looking at mine,

And in the half-light I think,

Isn’t she beautiful.

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Written by
jessie-storm
Published
May 25, 2013
Lines·Words
57·437
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