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Paying lip service to the golden collie
with a ripped drooping eye and heavy body;
no one wants to touch something they can’t help
I think she is about 12 years old
she plops her head on concrete like a feathered pillow
unable to leave the comfort of the crowd
“Take her, take her,” I look up
“We can’t take her home….”
She doesn’t even bother looking back at me
and the children feed her more chips
because that’s what makes her tail wag
I am at orphanage where all the kids are black or brown
The dog is golden white,
I can’t help to think that desolate and unwanted
is an emotion even the dog understands

My chemical romance
watches me write
makes me remember
everything
I’ve been wanting to forget

Mary go round
up and down this hill
my autumn is my house
and my heart is a fill

Every boy I loved has a sandy heart
watch out! Here comes the wind
Now my drink is sour
a broken dream tastes so tart

In the purgatory of customs
My devil is in black and white
And my angel wears a red tie
I can’t speak or the dam will peak
Every confession gets sealed
between the stamp and me

–what beautiful skin— she says
-hiding the implosion that’s held within-
I say
–Every boy I loved has a sandy heart

Sacred is the feeling
of a bitter good to have you
sorry I can’t keep you here,
Too bad that I can’t have you here

I miss your pink granite bed
I miss my flower orange glow
Flying down your corridor
Watch me as I’m out your front door

Bless me as I sing out the front door
Watch me as I’m out your front door

For Hui (my car’s name), Texas, and the teachers of the broken dreams.