Shadows - on the wall - crawl slow Fluorescent hum - teeth of snow Waiting - for the slip, the drop I clamp down - I don’t stop Rust taste - tongue cut - dry Hands shake - won’t ask why They reach for what’s left of me I lock it up - I turn the key No clean breath Only signal Only pulse Only metal Up - up - up - up Heat in the wire No back - no past Black lung choir Up - up - up - up Latch - spark - fire Whispers? static - thin and mean Siren mouth behind the screen Fear talks fast - I mute the feed White-noise gospel I don’t need Road ahead - not clear, not gold Just hard light - and getting old Frames of a story - torn - re-spliced Fever name - cold sweat - ice No clean breath Only signal Only pulse Only metal (Oh - oh - oh - oh) Not broken - bent (Oh - oh - oh - oh) Pressure vent Mouth full of sparks - I speak in grit I glitch - I bite - I don’t submit Up - up - up - up Heat in the wire No back - no past Black lung choir Up - up - up - up Latch - spark - fire Clank - hiss Blink - miss Still here Still lit
