Dogeared

[Intro: Kapwani]

La-la, la-la

La-la, la-la

La-la, la-la

My love runs deep

I feel so many things

[Verse 1: E L U C I D]

Losing the plot, turning back the pages

Asked if I would trade it all, like please be kind, rewind

We're not talking impossible matters, it's all chutes and ladders

The patterns never more apparent, glaring

Peace scatters after death strokes, next notes

Sour to the tongue, alive with pleasure

Kelly green and mandarin orange

Who I'm is? Who I'm aren't?

Everything justified when you starving, right?

Hands of chance, buried lambs to not be spotted in darkness, night

Twice, thrice, feeling spiteful

It's always "Where you going?"

And never just "I'm right here with you" (That's fair)

Part of keeping your word isn't saying much

Three-legged, stray expectation

Lapping ankles under shaky tables

Change your tone, grab my things, I'm gone

I'm off, I'm mostly on

If not for you, then who's it for?

I still will where I want, I'm okay with nothing

That's not my only problem

Numbers on the board, another mark in the column, park

[Bridge: Kapwani]

In front of me, under me

Behind me, above me

In front of me is what I see

Feel me, feel me, feel me

[Verse 2: billy woods]

She finished her drink and looked at me inquisitively, asking

"What's the role of a poet in times like these?"

I never answered, but it stuck with me all week

Riding the bus, fixing something to eat

Putting the kids to sleep, walking the streets at night, burning a tree

Drafty windows got me turning up the heat

Downstairs neighbor called about a leak

Makaela called, we talked til' 3 in the morning

My agent called about touring

I dreamt of boats loose from their moorings

We'll see if they're sea-worthy, we'll see

I took the 4 to Fulton, transferred to the 3

We'll see what washes up on the beach

Galoshes on, he leaps into puddles with both feet on the way home

Bacon grease by the stove for frying eggs, hash potatoes

I'm smoking in bed, scrolling my phone

Novel on the nightstand untouched

Sleight of hand, past moments of dread

Spider-Man perched alone on the ledge

Mask off like Future

Rain sluicing through gutters

Lovers searching, the bar is dark

Cars double-parked, out-of-state license plates

Chin-ups on scaffolding, pull up (What's happening?)

She said, "You got an answer for me yet?"

I said, "I'm still grappling"