An Echo

Somehow between us
The air became so thick
We couldn’t reach to the other
An insurmountable divider
And I clawed at my throat
Thinking Hera must’ve cursed me
I can’t say the things I need to
I am just an echo bouncing
Off your forehead that’s tilted down and to the right
You can’t even look me in the eyes

And so we stay this way through Easter
As we drive up 35 in dark
To go visit my mother at the prison in Topeka
She is asking what’s the matter
As we stare into the vending machine
I can’t say the things I need to
I am just an echo bouncing off the glass into our likeness
Whatever that is
Could someone look me in the eye?

But then became the summer
When my hands appeared so useless
I felt like a little baby
And my pride evaporated
Like the water in a skillet
And you softened like some butter
We never said the things we need to
But an echo fades eventually
And this is such a likeness
That is what it is
You don’t even need to look me in the eyes

You don't even need to look me in the eyes
You don't even need to look me in the eyes