Green Beans

hyphen

i taste
paint fumes
in my
mouth and
i taste
acid
on my
tounge
i want
freedom
from these
paint fumes
i want
freedom
i've been hung

generic brands [or] green beans

there is a can in the corner
of the pantry
and it doesn't have an expiration date
we're both afraid to go near it
although it looks
to be some delectable green beans
and we both like green beans
we're both quite partial to green beans
and it looks to be some tasty canned green beans
yet
still
we
don't
go
near

we bought together this apartment
just out of college
and we made our share of crucial mistakes
forgetting that we lived together
at the tender age of 21
we bought generic brands
oh no
but yes we did
oh no
but yes we did
oh no
but yes we did
oh no

with all the nutrients soaked out
packaged in plastic
with sorry yellow labels peeling off
the damaged goods we scrimped and pinched for
try make it pretty
surviving on and living for the cause
that goal you know the cause
believe in it we're living for the cause
we climb to reach the stars
they
stay
so
far
away

two kids can make it on their own
it can't be hard to do
just get a job and an apartment
and some
furniture and shit
no need for chairs no need for something new
you can live secondhand
but then you know you're living secondhand
and then you wonder are you living
at all

beware of gas bills and electric
taxes and water
remember when they weren't there at all
but i believe you when you say
that we're okay
and we'll make it someday
if we keep on living this way
i believe you when you say
that we will be okay
and we'll make it someday
if we keep on living this way
i believe you when you say
that we will be
okay