i built an elaborate sand castle
with rooms to spare
a moat to protect it
each towering spire
a testament to perfection

and yet, no one lived there
and yet, the rain

i don’t know why
the chemicals that knit
to form the fragrance of that
first blushing mango
take me home in an instant

or why i feel more at ease
in the gentle rocking
of a commuter train
than i do in my home

i don’t know why
the line of your jaw
and the smoke in your eyes
make me knit letters into words

or why i would hang my heart
like a lantern before my doorway
to be bruised by the elements
beating louder there than in my chest

i don’t know why
i hate praise, but crave it
fear love, but need it
need touch, but reject it

or why i can shine
incandescent
yet still view myself
a moth

i don’t know why
i like what i like
want who i want
love who i love

i just know i do
and that is enough

i have made
so many friends
because this country
put our foods
in the same aisle

we lived in a moment
the one we just left
the one we just entered
the one about to come

we felt it all
divinity, infinite trinity

what a waste of time it is
waiting for now to be over
as if there was ever anything else
as if you can waste the infinite

So to drink, we have Prison
Sugary-sweet and full-flavoured
It's bad for the health but it sure tastes great

Or if you prefer, we have Diet Vengeance
It's not as satisfying as Prison
But you won't mind while
taste is on your lips

but i only asked for Justice
straight from the tap
a taste of remorse
an ounce of regret
a pint of recognition
a glass of restitution
i do not want
to drink your substitutes
only to find
that i am still thirsty

Well I'm sorry, but
If you aren't going order anything
I'm going to have to ask you to leave

i have an old bedraggled dog
i found when he was small
he does not jump, or dig, or fetch
he does not play at all

and though this dark companion
doesn't bring me any joy
i must, i must take care of him
this damnable good boy

he dashes through my hallways
like a beast that's gone insane
but when i try to walk him
he's an anchor on a chain

he barks at the most random hour
and wakes me from my sleep
he whines for food, but when he’s fed
he simply does not eat

when i try to leave my house
he lays and blocks the way
he'll stay until i sit with him
and waste the whole damn day

but as i know him better now
his pattern's gotten clear
and all his bad behaviour
has become, to me, more dear

he ran because in chasing him
i had to follow suit
he did not walk because the ground
was shaking underfoot

he did not eat because the food
had rotted on the plate
and when he barked it was because
i'd never been awake

he blocks the door to keep me
when i haven't stopped to rest
he reminds that i've only ever
tried to do my best

so even though i sometimes wish
he'd finally leave me be
i understand the value
of his brand of loyalty

i have an old bedraggled dog
i met when i was small
he stays with me to teach me
that it's still okay to fall

so when my dark companion
sees me hide away from joy
he must, he must take care of me
this damnable good boy