206 Bones

pockets full of spare keys
to houses I don’t live in anymore
they weigh me down completely
but I cannot seem to let them
take their leave of me
and after so long of
carrying sharp words on my tongue
I’ve earned the right to be earnest
when you pare it down to the last few things
the last few things to get done
are always the hardest
two hundred and six bones
only one heart
and when the wood house it burns down
all that’s left are bolts and hinges
nails and screws
we couldn’t hold it all together
when the flame, it lit the fuse
two hundred and six bones
only one heart
and lately we work all the time
to keep our hearts from getting broke
afraid of missing out
afraid of letting go
two hundred and six bones
but only one heart
with thanks to anthony f. marra, whose novel «a constellation of vital
phenomena,» inspired this song.