al666insongs

I did not go out last night, and instead stayed in and wrote and recorded a song. I’ll probably do it again later to fix my verb tense and tones and rhythm in a few spots, but I think it’s pretty sweet as is. Track is “Cherry,” by Ratatat.

Birds in Skirts

You were casting shadows on the
wet pavement outside
you defy
that in your own dreams you can not die
you know you’re wrong,
but it’s a matter of pride
And I was next up in line
inside deciding which tic tacs to buy
they didn’t have orange so I
thought I’d try lime
and I did and it was fine.

And we were walking together
for the first time in as long as I can remember
you said it’s like high school again
and I grin when I say
that I feel the same way
but is this for real or is this pretend
every second I spend with you
echoes beyond its own ending, into
the notes that I keep in my room
with a pen’s skeleton shredded out of its shell
just the tubing of ink and the head
I commit you to notes from my bed.

In my backyard in Hamden
I used to pretend
that the thorns were my enemy,
the flowers my friends;
and slighting the worlds
in the brambles and their furls,
with a broomstick I tore
through uprooting, at war.

And now I know that all of it was just for fun, sure
but in tall grass I pass through bramble patches
unscratched, unhurt
and twice, we tried to save birds,
the first with a wing hurt
flew away safe the next day

but the second
was a scuffle
we wrestled him from the gutter
we kept him outside he looked sick maybe fungus
when he opened his box
again he was dead
he was covered in ants
and we closed the lid
and I wondered did the insects
have the decency to let him die
before they came to feast on his eyes?
 
And the first time a kiss meant anything
I spit the the first words that came to my lips
“I love you” and I think she did too but she knew it would be over soon
I’m glad she didn’t say it back
that would have fucked up my shit real bad
it’s sad
alas, on the last rail
shivers skinny a cat who lost its tail
the train shudders, tired,
crows on the wire
cackle and chatter
and the cat in fear scatters.

The earth will turn the other way
the earth will never burn in flames

and you’ll survive
any witch trial
you’ll float
over the edge
of the cliff
and they’ll know

Be good to the creatures of the earth
be good to yourself most of all for all your worth