America is

America is a fern
and we all cultivate it.

America is germinating
and we can't control it.

America is in terms
that I can come to terms with.

America is a way
with words, America is
what it takes to describe
an urban landscape,
America is a blending of voices,
America is a sophisticated
form of art.
America is a day old
railroad of the new world
where the waters have never
been tested, where our trust
lies in the ones best at
acting their part.
America is what we make
out of a broken home, and
America will be the first to
cast a stone.
America sees us off, with
tears, and roses chosen
for us in a dim lit florist.
America already knows
where to find you,
and that the worst is
behind you,
America is a Grandmother
named Jones.

Six rusty lamps I lit
in the evening
had all but
burnt out,

and from the other room
I heard you shout,
"the ceilings'
beginning to leak."

Mud on the tiles,
your footsteps
stomped and squeaked.
We were all in disbelief.
We had a feeling we'd
be there for a while,
so we found a
board game to
keep us all sane.

I've had my lows
and I've been pretty high,
picture frames are windows
to better times.
Feels good when the wind blows
over the street signs.

We felt it dying down,
I found a railing in the yard,
discarded by whatever tore
through the streets,
roaring ahead of us.

Crying, you held a bird,
failing to fly from your arms.
You knew she wouldn't
last another day.
The storm had finally passed.

The transaction is almost complete.
By the time he catches on,
I'll be long gone. Poor Pete.

A keen eye for another
mans' lighter, don't we all?
I'm a thief among thieves.
This is no small time operation.

The deed is done.
Enter six kids with
sick intentions as I
celebrate in a hazy room.

Keep conversation cordial
but don't let down your guard.
This is the hardest part.

I thought victory was
in the pocket of my jeans,
but as they stumbled through
the door, I fumbled for my score.

I wasn't able to hold on.
I don't know what went wrong,
must have left it on the table.
Can't resist a game so playable.

Take my hand,
don't trip trip trip,
don't trip
over my bare feet.
Take my can,
and sip sip sip,
sip sip
where land meets sea.

Take me there all wrapped in sunshine,
the weather's fine when your heart is close to mine.
We've got more time than the rest of them,
and anyhow, we're not going anywhere right now.

You put the fight back in me.
You laced up the old gloves for me.
Like flint to fire, your love
sparked and inspired,
like flint to fire, your love
sparked and inspired me.

Sharing small spaces,
we are rare, rare cases.
Just a shack or a roof of thatch
is all we need when we have the waves
and flowers in our faces.

Silk in a serenade,
each second becomes a day.
Just stay for the blink of an eye.
Now I have a reason to lose
control of my breathing.

Sympathy in the strings I play,
not so much in the things I say,
no matter how hard I try.
Unaware of the passing season,
am I staying or am I leaving?

Cornerstones crumble,
I don't trust my senses enough.
I've got a feeling nothings' real.
Now I have a reason to
really start screaming.

Polished brass,
shattered glass in the garden.
Examine the facts yet abolish
the past, a history lesson isn't
something I'm going to believe in.

The creases in time are
seamless in my sleep.
A fragile frame of mind,
I hate to suppress it. I'm inclined
to ask, am I awake, or am I dreaming?

There's a city glowing in my ears,
biting blur of the nightlife.
Figure I've been here for a while.
My supplies were piled high,
now they're in short supply
and I'm high.
The walls of my
apartment are red.

I wait until the streetlights
flick on before I flip into a
somersault, I wait until the
streetlights flick on before
I call you out tonight.
The walls of my
apartment are red.

Dead presidents, don't
answer for me,
I paint the walls red.
Dead presidents couldn't have
seen it coming,
I paint the walls red.
Dead precedents, don't correct me.

Could have been a fool,
could have been a rule
you didn't know, so
when your friends are
wrong sing a song that
won't offend anyone.

You kept me waiting for hours,
you were shining. In a dress like
blood and flowers, you were shining.
You better sell it hard tonight.
The walls of my
apartment are red.