There was a game she didn't know
she was playing.
It was subtle - a game of trickery and silver tongues;
                                                                                             a magic trick.

In one hand and out the other.

Her moves were innocent,
made in the name of friendship and understanding.
A big heart,
                       a warm soul,
                                                an easy target.
The magician smiled - sharp and bright - and proceeded to saw her in half.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

she stumbled, she bled, she tripped and she fell.
she didn't win the game -
                                                didn't even place.
She got distracted by the smooth talking wolf in a tuxedo and cape.

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down.

                                               Game over.
                                                 You Win.
                            She limps off stage and is forgotten.

Realizing this isn't a dream is what breaks my heart.
These things should only happen in nightmares -
Where I suddenly wake up with a start
and say 'Thank God it's only a Dream.'

But it's not.  Fate is too cruel.
I was given a void that ***** my entire being.
A pawn fighting a queen. Am I that of a fool?
Or should I hope for another Spring?

A marionette by day and a ragged doll by night
Empty soul, cool eyes, a heart that stings,
Under the sun, A smile to make it all right,
At the end of the tunnel, will I ever see the light?

1                                                                ­    4
she offers me,                                             a spot of dust
she raises me                                              under the couch,
on platitudes and warm bread                I know it’s
in return for my devotion                         there

she loves me like the boats                       today, I start spring-cleaning,
she keeps out on the ocean                      (this alone
she loves me to be molded,                      should receive
not to be unfolded                                     more recognition than it will)
                                                           ­           I pull out the couch
she bore me bones                                     the vacuum doesn’t quite
the lacrimal bone                                       reach the dust lying
the breastbone                                            on unused carpet,
all the cervical vertebrae                          the head
I use them to simulate                              keeps hitting the wall
her expectations                                        unproductive
­
                                                                ­     I put the furniture back
2                                                           ­        in place
I have names,                                             no one will see the lack
I wear them like badges                           of progress
inspired by something not quite
earned yet                                                   5
         ­                                                            while­ lucid dreaming
I assigned                                                   conste­llations were on
each name                                                  my skin
a compartment                                          and freckles in
of me                                                           the night sky
If I name them maybe
they will become                                       pollution drowned out
real, not just necessary                             two thirds
                                                          ­           even if most imploded
                                                        ­             before they were seen

3                                                          ­         6
with enough necessity                             were it not for shadows
anyone can tell a lie                                  I would surely learn to
                                                              ­       hate the light

Walls are tall
Walls are strong
I thought I could feel it pulsing
That heart you guard
Your deception was smooth
But The pulse came from my own heart
I suppose you never had one
But why did you have to steal mine
Why did you leave me hollow

My mind is aquiver with these thoughts that swarm like bees
Yet just the same my body trembles by the touch of your skin
As your mellifluous voice makes silent the buzzing in my ears

It's strange you see, the paradox that is us, you and I together
There is terror and calm, there is beauty and horror in it all
Like a sort of Yin and Yang but more so just a tug-o-war

With this I look in the past and question the limerence that was
It blinded us and deceived us like a butterfly hiding from a predator
We thought we knew what Love was, but maybe it was never made

We only rubbed our eyes and like phosphenes we saw an illusion
Colors that may only exist in a moment, but aren’t pure reality
Our lives together became so flawed in all we tried to conceive  

The moments of bliss and happiness were always just ephemeral
We got caught up in oblivion, because we lost ourselves before
There never was a truth to see, we were birds flying as if deaf

With this I come to a resolution that our relation was merely cromulent
We attempted to ameliorate something that was doomed from the start
Yet I think there was a sort of dalliance, but simply rooted in the flesh

Lady go, Lady go, Lady go now
Something must be wrong
Lady go, Lady go, Lady go now
You been here way too long.

I saw you sittin’ at the bar
So I bought you just one beer
I still don’t know who you really are
But now you’re livin’ here.

That night that you came home with me
I thought you were low on luck,
You said you needed company,
And could sure use eighty bucks.

Now you been eatin’ all my food
“Borrowing” money too,
I don’t want to be mean or rude
But I’ve had enough of you.

You tell me I’m your closest friend
They’ll be good times ahead,
You put hearts on every note you send,
Every night you share my bed.

But everyday you sneak away
And I don’t know where you go
It’s like an Oscar Wilde play.
And I don’t enjoy the show.

You leave long before I go to work
You’re gone till late at night
Like shadows in the sunlight lurk,
Lady, something just ain’t right.

Guess I sold my soul for company
And late night romps in bed
But I’m not sure you're that into me
From a couple things you said:

First, you called me Joe, ( - my name is Tom)
As you showered me with praise,
But then you really dropped the bomb,
When you said, “Joe, I need a raise.”

Lady go, Lady go, Lady go now
Something went all wrong
Lady go, Lady go, Lady go now
You been here way too long.
Phil Lindsey 6/7/15