New Pencils

new pencils
mood rentals
burned on CD's
then into memory

how to react
retreat into seclusion
headphones, exclusion
conclude with illusion

diluted and boiled down to brass tacks
the teeth and the spit come with the smile
take it in stride
so paint your face and get dressed to die in style

make an entrance with dynamite
dials and calls,
fire in the phone lines
words sprawled on the ceilings and walls

"dispair" scribbled on the skin of men
pointing fingers toward the fault
history is written to us in subpoena  
and the earth will be tried as an adult

disease from 99cent drug store viles
the bomb that falls is made of loose talk
that gathers like Oklahoma storm clouds
shot in the head walking down the isle

burning through lead at machine gun pace
im losing my mind but winning this race
and the end of the day tells a story of pain
lines like foroughs dug in my back with grace

and I sure act like a Christian I know all the right answers
i clap and hum and quietly remember I don't know the dancers
but the world feels cold but everyday I forget the ice
I try not to remember random facts about frostbite

tighten that blanket around my shoulders and keep going
i walk for distance but also for the confidence of growing
its a race I haven't quit but I'm about as close as you can get
I've got weapons I wont use and a peace I can't forget

the armor I wear is too big around my corners
and I'm not sure that it fits me but I've heard all the warnings
and I'm not about to drop the weight just because I'm feeling tight
my memory is dark but my yoke is easy and my burden is light