They called you a smoldering relic
from some forgotten age
rewinding until all the cassette ribbons unraveled
residing sleeping in a cage
I don’t know if you hurt me
more than I hurt you
We’ve got collateral
on both sides of the coin
one has a head scratched off
the other a younger version
of me
It doesn’t take
a man to battle cancer
for the nightmares to pounce
It doesn’t take
the daily grind
to wear a man out
Because then a doctor appointment
would be ready
for the strait jacket hug
and the auxiliary stretcher
And if physical injury
could reflect the heart
you would find
desolation
you still hadn’t shaken off
shrugged off those shackles
binding us to our nightmares
oh lo the struggle
oh lo the argumentation
would have sunk the sun
and the moon tugging in tow
These crises
are unlicensed
But reside in the sweat lodge
to evaporate the toxins
in solitary confinement
i am tomorrow
I am today
I am hiding in the basement
I am the day
it surprised me
when it eyed me
because I was tomorrow
I am today
laying on carpet
breathing heavy sighs
unbelieving
that some angelic dream
would descend
I swear I’d love you
Some future self would annouce
swear that he’d take care of you
gather you to his side
for I am tomorrow
I am today
I am the breath you exhale softly
before you close your eyes to sleep
I am tomorrow
a ray of hope
tomorrow, today, yesterday
