Another Bowling Alley died today
on the chopping block for pennies
on the worthless dollar's payday
please expose my secret diaries.

I heard the knock on death's inevitable door
had to answer the summons into another space.
There stood my 10 my perfect girl I'll adore
forever inside my Nirvana the perfect place.

I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  of our kitchen
  I found my new soulmate
  I'm leaving you and the kids
  to write poetry with poets.

  I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  of your dorm room
  our last kiss and
  I'm off to Boston
  where I hope I am.

  I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  of my garret
  a broken fist I put in your wall
  I'm jealousy's beast of burden
I'll call drunk from the booth
outside the Taco Bell
and slur my apology
to answering  machines.

  I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  with a drunk monument.
  I'm just another voice
  gather your stuff, bye
  why do I keep dying inside?

  I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  Nashville new job, we're over
  I'll mail your stuff.
  you were the cruelest month
  still I couldn't set you free

  I'm aching naked
  in the raw dawn
  always
  no cure for romantics
  who believe in God
  and impossible love.

Everyone I've known
   fades into a lie.
   We're all children
   'til the day we die.
   Let's dance close
   let's be wicked.
   Take a chance
   be a bit addicted
   reduced to threads
   inside our heads
   above our beds
   torn to shreds

We choked on our stock's ashes.
1929. The crash. We lost it all.
nothing left to bear my burden.
nothing left to sing my praise.
my body aches. my soul despairs.
Forget friends. Never mind prayers.
The only warmth a stranger's "Hello".
I doubt innocence. What does he want?
I'll sleep on benches and city grates
and wipe my *** with 20 dollar bills.
I'll walk the stairs for the first time
to the top of my building and perch
and gaze upon the city that betrayed
me and step into death's cool flight.

I exist inside a vast space of your heart
called Love I see no end, barely a start
that will let me watch stars in our night
you blind me while I stare in your light.
I remember your smell and your heat
as you gently push me down to eat.

Bette Mann doesn't exist.
The world's a lesser place
without her fierce resist.
We will never replace.