bombast, verbatim

over and over in my head
it’s nothing new
listening to the ghosts whisper
words I should have said to you

if you could only see yourself
in all those things I do
that I can’t fit a single word to

take all your confrontation smiles
and the laughter you lose
and build it ‘til it breaks
all the weaponry and wiles you choose

if I could only see myself as you see me today
I could blow away
and you’d never know
or much less say how you did the trick
[to the new body politic]
as if that doesn’t make you sick

up your sleeve
out of the blue
said you would leave
now you can’t move

if we could only see ourselves right here
but for a season
love of and within reason
could we ever leave on a positive?
Will we ever get what we give?