people who like bad news.

he told me to lie to him.
it's a surprise when someone needs to remind me
and even worse when someone does.
i choke back a tear
and reassure him that i am well.
everything runs smoothly
and just as expected from me
there is no reason to ask for a hug
or an extra kind word at the end of our exchange

instead, i stand atop the mass of rubble
while he gently sips on his tea
a sweet smile leaks from under my matted hair
so that he may chuckle softly.
i don't bother to shout or scream or yell
because i know he'll only get scared
and scamper back under his shell.

i wonder if his mild-mannered life
is just not built to handle anything
that i have the guts to dish out to him.
i wonder if he reminds me to lie
so that i forget all the truth that hurts.
i wonder if the method works,
i obviously don't try it out enough.

i am not built of lies to entertain my guests,
i am a bold shining truth and sometimes it's ugly.
i have bad days too
and i think we all need a sounding board,
not a verbal punching bag
or a human damn it doll,
but a car to rock you to sleep on the ride home
and a gentle hand to pat your back
or give you a little something for free.

isn't it strange when someone
insists they can support you
when all they continue to do is shout "timber"?
he wants me to crash in the forest and not make a sound.


Originally performed on second open mic 2/24/11
Originally written on 10/21/10