Polyanna Rescinded

Dragon Baby

Penitentiary blues

I feel a cage coming on

No point in runnin’

The chain’s already welded tight around my ankle

I put it there

Forged the links

Out of grudge metal and angry fire

Made the decision

To be chained

To be caged

To be an animal

To be a dragon with opposable thumbs

Raining down destruction

On my own suburban landscape

Of peaceful homes and happy families

Lock me up

Before I make victims

Of my own dreams

I made the cage

I made the dragon

I lost the key

I acted out my fears

Lived like they were true

Until they became true

More real than the blue skies above my head

More real than the green earth beneath my feet

I want my freedom

But I just can’t

Let

Go

Symphony

Walking down the street

Looking for cigarette butts half-smoked

Hoping no one will notice when I pick them up

All I see is leaves and feet

Cracks in the sidewalk

A symphony of fear plays in my head

When will I die

And why am I not dead

Every day I wake up

Breathing

Wearing skin

Like I belong here

Should be on this planet

In the form of a girl

With no money

No cigarettes

No hope

But to find that half-smoked butt

To breathe in its smoke like shame

To match the symphony of shame

That plays in my head

That sounds like theft and lies and empty sex

That sounds like bagpipes at a funeral

For a lonesome little girl

Who lived her life in a bottle

Praying for half-smoked cigarettes and death