Purple Shearling

The structure I’ve created
is three meals to keep us sated
monotony is overrated
and the big spoon craves the stir –

Crave the stir: to make us better
Crave the stir: to blend the batter
Crave the stir: to change the season
Crave the stir: to feel the passion

Together we both sit
in this box that doesn’t fit
guilt has glued us at the hip
and our bones they crave the stir –

Crave the stir: to sink your teeth in
Crave the stir: so we can breathe again
Crave the stir: to know our purpose
Crave the stir: so we can love us.

Waiting for the phone to ring
I know I can’t control such things
the air so quiet asking
for that buzz to break
my breath

Fall should be here now
I’ve been counting down
it’s nowhere
to be found the sky is cartoon
blue in this California town
the rains are overdue
I’ve found I don’t have a plan
I want to stick to

Night is sleeping into day
and I’ve perfected every way
to put off what I need to say
to push on forward

Waiting for the phone to ring
I’m caught up in an endless
stream of what ifs and self
questioning — I’m learning
to control these things.

I just want you to win I just want
you to be happy I just want us
to turn the tables
and send the china flying

Break myself apart
teapot short and stout
turn me on over
and drain my self doubt

I’m up to my eyes in weeds
can’t see through most things
it’s a solitary scene flashing
silver dreaming wings.

Shake me to the bone
it all seems senseless
and alone a good laugh
in the scheme of things
but I don’t see the joke
it brings

Cut out the editor
lay it on the line
the more we play
on paper maybe
we’ll be fine

Are you sad for me?
Have I let myself go?

Fires burning all around us
How much longer
no one knows.