The Only Thing

THE ONLY THING

hear the screen door slam
like a thief running from a house on fire
not part of what I am
like a cool blue desire
a wall that's building higher

put a window in the room
and an eye on the world below
have a porch, a lamp, a broom
but nowhere to go
the clock that ticks too slow

so you climb the stairs
to the top of the roof
come down from there, they cry
but when there's nothing to hold onto
and nothing left to prove
the only thing you've left to lose
is the lie

a shadow on the wall
a light falling from the windowed sky
spreads darkness where you crawl
and light where you fly
even though you try

to leave the window clear
to the cool, summer air
and to the people passing by
how many steps to the door?
how many breaths to the chair
when the only thing you've left to lose
is the lie

take the match and light the candle
take the match and light the paper
take the match and burn the house

hear the screen door slam
you run from the heat, the fire
the smoking window jam
the flames climbing higher
the house like a funeral pyre


but how fast the seasons go
it's summer now but then winter's soon
and there's some place you still know
where beneath the pale moon
stands the shell of the ruin

so when you stand alone
at the edge of the world
and they whisper their goodbyes
the lines will be untangled
and the flags will be unfurled
and the only things you've left to lose
are the lies