Watermark – The Weakerthans
i count to three and grin
you smile and let me in
we sit and watch the wall –
you painted purple
speech will spill on space
our little cups of grace
the pauses rattle on
about the way that you –
cut the snow fence
braved the blood
and the metal of those hearts –
that you always end up pressing your tongue to
how your body still remembers things you told it to forget
how those furious affections followed you
ive got this store-bought way –
of saying im okay
and youve youve learned how to cry –
in total silence
were talented and bright
were lonely and uptight
weve found some lovely ways –
to disappoint
but the airports always almost empty this time of the year
so lets go play on the baggage carrousel
set our watches forward like we’re just arriving here
from a past we left in a place we knew too well
(hold on – to the corners of today
and we’ll fold them up to save until its needed.
stand still, let me scrub that brackish line
that you got when something rose and then receded)
