The Time to Talk Is Now

Poke me with a stick until I bleed

You’re not the only one of us with needs

I ain’t smart, but I know I can learn

To stand around and watch a building burn

Something in the way you pull my strings

Is a catalyst for rereading

Every single word that we throw out

And the body language when the lights go out.

Take me to your leader

I am but a humble gatekeeper

With a penchant for doing it again

Shone back in steely eyes

A silly boy cut down to size.

Underneath a faded overcoat

Anyone can feel like a rowboat

Oarless and pinholed and unnamed

Eaten by the sun and drunk on rain.

A while back, I took my radio

And made it Doppler down through the commode

Sassy! But now I want it back

To use its soullessness as my soundtrack.

The time to talk is now

Maybe so, but you know how

A tongue that’s sunburned is just useless flesh

Save it for more pursuits

Like tasting other fruit.

Outside the circle of your sight

You can be a song resung in broad daylight.

© 2007 John Brocato