if you close them
if you close your eyes this way
then all the things we have said
i had gotten sick of those warmer places
i had become full
on too much of that
and i looked back at them
i had kept my eyes open
we were like a cult that summer
and we were right where we wanted
if you close your eyes this way
it was something
they thought telling us would help with
driving from the block behind my house
turning down the street and onto the avenue
are you listening?
an echo of theirs rang
are you listening?
if you close your eyes this way
if you close them
some days i want to stand and wait for the mailman
like i did
before
when it seemed like an okay thing to do
and he would smile at you
and place the mail in your hand
but i am invisible now
as he shoves it inside the box
apartment 2A i tell him
i tell his back actually
and the circulars left on the floor swirl
in the sucking shut of the door
if you close your eyes this way
there are secrets hidden beneath my coat sweetheart
and i could learn you things no one would believe
hands mouths propositions
the mall where i grew up had a carnival store
its main purpose
was to sell balloons and party hats
but the far back wall was straight glass
and behind the glass
real live monkeys swung
from artificial branch to branch
once you saw those monkeys
you would buy anything
popcorn kazoos plastic rings
the gumball machine by the exit
was a four foot clown face
and above the checkout
hovered a ten foot wall of halloween masks
even when it wasn't halloween
if you close your eyes this way
they all seemed to be saying
we have things to tell you
and they know they had me listening for a second
those monkeys flying
putting dimes into a clowns mouth
being personally handed mail from the mailman
they had me
lulled
seduced
lullaby my sweet
you could buy cotton candy
and not even be at the fair
how could they i think now
how could they have a zoo inside of a mall
if you close you eyes this way
they still whisper in my ear
we will tell you
