Mother's Ilk


i was holding my fist, tight as a wrench

messages sent, a thirst unquenched

about the size of heart sorely missed

about the size of your heart


brackish lake, meadow finch

the fading freedom of summer sensed

small breaths all surmount to this

death waiting for a kiss

death waits for a kiss


don’t let your sorrow-sport become the daily news

wear toddler eyes, a new disguise, get up and tie your shoes

oh how you compel and consume

in the outfits of your urge and the face you choose

oh how you compel and assume

in the outfits of urge, in the face you choose


i am on the verge of understanding

i am knowing nothing

we are the promise of something

something to believe in

like the darkness stains the evening


and the stars are blinking in code

crying forget-me-not, like old lovers or clothes

tie the ribbons of youth to the spines of all the books you’ve read

speak in metaphors (my dear) put your teacher to bed

‘cause I don’t want to know why (he said, she said)

speak in metaphors (my dear) put your teacher to bed

‘cause I don’t want to know why (he said, she said)


why the light went brilliant, swept in the autumn brisk

while what you meant was caught in the red of your lips

with the impatience of a spinning world

and the trick luck of boys and girls

boys and girls


i’m gonna sew the sky into the shirt I wear

and feel a cloud’s touch on the breeze, teasing fairer air

before we set like initials in wet cement

and memorize all the ways to forget

before we set like initials in wet cement

and memorize all the ways to forget


on the verge of understanding

knowing nothing

but we are the promise of something

something to believe in

like the darkness staining evening



Words by travist.paine. ©2007



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