In a state of utter apathy I stated that you weren’t for me. Instead of letting it go on It made more sense for us to not belong. You pleaded and you shouted But your thoughts, well, they were clouded. You don’t seem to get what I do. Because I know . . . Chorus Love doesn’t have to last forever To impact a lifetime. Short stories Can mean as much as novels. Even though we were doing just fine I don’t want to be content With a mediocre love. We don’t seem to fit just quite right. It’s not you so please let’s not fight. Why continue with this charade? Maybe I have issues Or maybe you’re gay. I hate to leave you while you’re so down But there’s no way I’ll stick around. You can’t see my P.O.V. So I’m so sorry but I mean . . . Chorus Thanks for everything you did for me. I enjoyed the dinner and the trip on the sea. Money can’t fix this mess. I don’t want this to work. I’d say I’m sorry But really I’m not. So maybe I’ll find somebody new And maybe I’ll find I miss you But I’m willing to take that chance Since this is such a joke of a romance. You’re not nice and you’re not handsome, Make me cry, not fun and quite dumb. So hey these are my final words. You never listen but now you’ll have heard. Chorus

Your coming to see me Is an act of pure love Drizzled like a vinaigrette Pouring from above My waiting to see you Is a wave of pure terror Fear of your radiance Dazzled by your unchanged glow Hoping for a happenstance, impossible Searching for a sign, imperceptible Dreaming of a day, unbelievable Longing though my love is unrequitable Our coming together A painful joy of desire Undazed after all these years Still haven’t quenched that unclaimed fire

I could run one hundred miles today Of course I’d pass out at the second tenth of a mile marker, but hey I had a dream that everything connected with something else And in the end it was collected by its rightful owner Waiting on the shelf Of one true love It was all connected and it was always there One true love All along I had it All along I had my one true love I could sleep one hundred hours today But I didn’t I woke up prior to the first alarm, the sky was grey I had a dream that all my fears were beaten And I was readmitted to my garden of Eden Figuratively speaking Of one true love Demolishing my doubt with a tenderness that cannot be described One true love All along I had it All along I had my one true love I woke up from my dream, blinked my eyes I was alive Bolstered by something new yet ancient in years After fears of uncertainty I roused myself to grab this pen and pad of paper And I could write one hundred songs today A plurality of drivel but all I really need is one to say That I could dream one million dreams tomorrow Divide and factor down it seems it’s all one dream One dream I have Of one true love

He always said that he wanted to fly. One day he packed his chute and climbed onto the roof. The air was warm and they were cheerin’ him on. Listened to the breeze, it was singin’ his song. Spreading his wings, he looked to the sky. He stepped toward the edge; he was going to fly. That’s when he fell down to the ground and then he wondered, “What the hell am I doin’ here?” And for a minute there he thought that he was dyin’, and then a little bird appeared. She said, “If you wanna be a bird, man, you gotta long way to go, but I suppose I could help you out.” Icarus couldn’t manage it so what makes you think that you’ve got it figured out? Chorus Hey, Birdman, doncha know you can’t fly Off of the roof and into the sky. Stay right here and don’t even try. Only way to go is straight down. And then he looked up at the bird and he said, “I don’t like the way you put me down. “You’re just like everybody else—you think I’m nothing—that’s why I’m leavin’ this town. “So I appreciate that you want to help, but I think I’m better off alone. “When I return that’s when you’ll see that the boy you didn’t believe in has flown.” Chorus At that point the bird’s feathers were ruffled and she flew down to the ground. “I do believe in you; I wish you could see I’m a good friend to keep around. “You’re a smart boy and ya got big plans, but the world is big and cruel. “Let me help you to cut through the crap and keep from becomin’ a fool.” Chorus It was a good twelve years later before he came back. The bird had long since died. But he went back to that old roof he jumped off anyway. He sat down, and then he cried. He came home to find that fickle friends fly away, and the world is awful scary. So sad to find that his only true friend is in an avian cemetery. Chorus

While searching through my laundry hamper, I found that black tank top you liked. The one you said had changed the timbre, Of every note you’d ever write. And on that page, Your notes would say That you would always know the way. When searching through my laundry hamper. You found that note stuck in my blue jeans. The one that seemed to put a damper, On everything my words could mean. And on that day, My words would say That I would always need my way. And in the wash the colors bled Black turned blue turned red. And all your notes had changed their tune. While searching through my laundry hamper, I have to admit six months later. I still can’t wear that damn black tank top. It only makes me feel a traitor. And someday My words will say How I’m so sorry and dismayed Just for the way we did decay And how I can’t make you go away By searching through my laundry hamper.

He woke up this morning on an old sofa bed. He sat right straight up, looked around and he said, “Today is the day I’ll be leaving this town.” No one said a word. There was not one single sound The day that Misha left town. He went to watch Frisbee. He threw back some beers. He watched all his friends that he’d known through the years. “Would he miss them?” he thought. “Sure, in a manner of speaking.” Though not one of them knew that today he was leaving. The day that Misha left town. We spent but one night running round at the bars. I know he liked vodka. He liked Cuban cigars. He was a man of fine taste. He liked onions and brats’. He liked chasing women to do “you-know-whats”. Oh, Misha, don’t ever leave town. Oh, Misha, I met you not 3 months before. At that time who knew just what was in store. You ran really fast. Were you running from someone? I never even asked. I just thought you were fun. Will he ever return or is he gone forever? Where has he moved on? Should I write him a letter? All we knew was that Misha was a friend we would lose. When he left that day all he left were his shoes. The day that Misha left town. Misha!