Parallel Lines

If you found the words, would you really say them?

Or stutter through the verse, with mumbled punctuation?

Remembering the line, an empty metaphor

That you savored by yourself, you're never cured

If I forgot the lines, is it easy enough to fake it?

Or do you need a moment to re-memorize

And model it like a curse half-disguised?

Leers, jeers, whispers and the tears

That final taste before you're taken away

Odds, ends, final amends

It's all right to say it

Just as long as you don't really think so

Give me a little room

To get on with concentration

Just enough to know

What I'm missing in education

Borrowing all the hours that you gave to me

It's a wonder I could ever breathe

Under all your thoughts

You'll hear the floating whisper

Of all the things you were that have been paralleled

All the voices that were raised and finally fell

Leers, jeers, whispers and tears

That final taste before you're taken away

Odds, ends, final amends

It's all right to say it

Just as long as you don't really think so

No lights

No show

No sex

That's all you get

No waits

No calls

No written tests for what you know

Leers, jeers, whispers and tears

That final taste before you're taken away

Odds, ends, final amends

It's all right to say it

Just as long as you don't really think so