Sweetness and Light

And the most curious thing
Aside from the way that the sun often shines inappropriately on a crisis
Aside from the strange sense of calm
And the way that we instinctively sit on the seats on the left hand side of the
top deck of your local bus
Is what happens to all of the secrets we carelessly shared on those January
days on the sofa in the front room of your terraced house?
Now things are over, tell me do they just disappear or get broadcast on all
channels and frequencies around town?
I guess we both feel like talking
But maybe we could find a way to be discreet this time?
And we’re fine with the truth
It’s more just the stuff we’ll make up when we’re drunk to find favour with
friends and distant acquaintances
And you’re welcome to say I’m often distracted and don’t always put my books
straight back on their bookshelves, they just lie around
And I’ll just say you’re forgetful
From PIN numbers, birthdays and dentist appointments to paying your rent
But they know that anyway
And we’ll just leave it there
If anyone asks well we just grew apart and there’s nothing to share
I know we both feel like talking
But maybe we could find a way to be discreet?
And I’ll stand aside, bite my tongue until the moment subsides
I’ll stand aside and let everyone think that you’re sweetness and light
I’ll stand aside, close my eyes until the moment subsides
I’ll stand aside and let everyone think that you’re sweetness and light
And I’ll pack my bags
Warm as the sun shines obliviously
I know it’s a poor consolation for me
As I sit on the bus in our regular seats
The secrets we shared in your old terraced house on those January days
Will stay with the sofa and moth-eaten chairs
Fade over time, disappear
And I’ll stand aside and let people decide for themselves
If you’re sweetness and light… or something else