rises the moon

days seem sometimes as if they’ll never end
sun digs its heels to taunt you
but after sunlit days, one thing stays the same
rises the moon

days fade into a watercolour blur
memories swim and haunt you
but look into the lake, shimmering like smoke
rises the moon

oh close your weary eyes
i promise you that soon the autumn comes
to darken fading summer skies
breathe breathe breathe

days pull you down just like a sinking ship
floating is getting harder
but tread the water child, and know that meanwhile
rises the moon

days pull you up just like a daffodil
uprooted from its garden
they’ll tell you what you owe, but know even so
rises the moon

you’ll be visited by sleep
i promise you that soon the autumn comes
to steal away each dream you keep
breathe breathe breathe

recently,

hand in hand
the flowers understand
that we’re fine, you and i

hands are tied
i don’t mind, i’ll make you be ok

but recently
everyone says they are seeing less of me
i could do better if i had energy
be like i used to be

but frequently
i picture myself walking straight into the sea
laughing as the waves come rolling to my knees
what a place to be

side by side
you keep me safe from their static getting through
please be fine
it’s too late now to go leave you behind

and recently
everyone says they are seeing less of me
i could do better if i had energy
be how i used to be

but frequently
i picture myself walking straight into the sea
laughing as the waves come rolling to my knees
what a place to be

and it’s a lovely day for swimming
pretend i didn’t see the red flags that said don’t go
cause if a storm out there’s beginning
i’ll find it for myself and not cause someone told me so

dududududu

and recently
everyone says they are seeing less of me
i could do better if i had energy
be like i used to be

but frequently
i picture myself walking straight into the sea
laughing as the waves come rolling to my knees
what a place to be

papercut

perhaps you’ve not known before
to need someone and not be needed anymore
i guess nobody’s to blame
my tongue’s still papercut speaking your name

perhaps you don’t understand
when i want you to care but now my worlds in your hands
what am i supposed to do
pretend im happy for you?

waited all day to cry
now im here my eyes are dry
couldn’t help you in the end
don’t know what I was looking to mend

perhaps you’ve not sung a song
of seeing yourself to every way come up wrong
the world cant hurt me no more
when im the very best at making myself sore

dududududududu

mother tongue

dudwayadududud (repeated)

the street beneath my feet is paved with rows of gold
or so i’m told

the sky before my eyes is never colour grey
or so they say

i guess i’ve known the truth since i was pretty young
that i never knew my mother’s mother tongue
i’ll fake all of my words til they point out to me
the crowds of purple orchid flowers
i can’t see

i’ll play along with borrowed chords until they shine
they’re still not mine
i’ll breathe all of these postcards in until they land
still second-hand

she gave me half my bones and made me one my lungs
but the same cold air is filling both of them
meanwhile a crocodile points out whats left behind
the field of yellow daffodils you tried
but couldn’t find

bahbahbahbahbahbhabfhbhabhbahbahba

i’ve known since i was pretty young i never knew my mother’s mother tongue x3

i’m putting on a smile made out of plasticine
and looking clean

try again tomorrow

faces skating skyward
places i could be
cardboard houses swaying
out of sunlit seas

this barbed wire beast is thirsty for its fill
holds me underwater til i’m still

i could always try again tomorrow
i might always try again tomorrow

cement pours in my ribcage
hardening to stone
too late now it’s passed you
walk the railway tracks until you’re home

tired as the pavements underfoot
water never stays where it is put

i could always try again tomorrow
i might always try again tomorrow

try again tomorrow
(tired as pavements underfoot, weary as the petals put between pages warm with trust, turning slowly into dust)