Screw Up Your Courage

i can't
begin
to explain
what went
down, and if
i did, would you
understand?
half of
all my eyes
don't know how
to wink

hey, my heart
it's not a race;
all the same,
a good head start helps

-simultaneously-
it would scare
you shitless, unless
you're dead;
already put down
like a horse with a broken leg/
scarecrow waits
for crows to scare
my friend paces,
twists his hair tips

so my hands
will be red again
(i'm caught canary in a mine)
and oh, your legs
will mend again
(i'll charge the gate and gleam)

oh,
be
firm, and
ask me again

-simultaneously-
i hope someone
will unpack this crate,
will unwrap this cape cos it's
choking me/
i hope someone will
pack it up,
wrap me up
in holy cloth

and store me in
pyramids

you could bring
me juice, or
saltines when
i'm under
the weather, and
over you

all our songs
in unison
(here's where you bled, and here's where i did)
get your courage
to sick in place
(fight off the doubt that sings like silence)

-simultaneously-
oh,
be
firm, and/
oh,
just
speak
up, and

ask me again