Just Wrought

Promise

When you look me in the eye,
(promise me you’ll lie)
and figure out who I really am
(promise me you’ll promise me)

When you finally decide—
(you'll lie) 
—to kiss me 
(promise me)

When you total up the stars 
(promise me you’ll lie) 
as I fall asleep beside you 
(lie to the sky)

When you work up the nerve 
(to lie) 
to leave me 
(promise me won't)

When you finally say good-bye 
(lie)

Wherever I go without you 
(promise me there you’ll lie) 
whenever within you I come 
(lie lie lie)

This wickedness through which we wend 
(this promise) 
is simply who we are 
(I promise)

don’t bother to deny 
(you’ll lie)

(Just promise me) 
you might as well 
always do the impossible 
(promise me you will)

That Friend

You gamble wrong, hoping
I’m like the others. I ain’t.

I’m the one who’ll kill you, 
make you better, or abandon you; 
but never hope you’ll care.

I’m the one who’ll make you 
bigger than both of us, lift you 
thriving above surviving.  I’m the friend 
circling your heart’s winter with fire.