“Mary, Don’t Call My Name”

“Mary, Don’t Call My Name” Met her where the neon hums low Whiskey talking through the glass She leaned in like she knew my soul Like she’d already seen my past Said, “you carry something you won’t put down” With a smile I couldn’t place Lit me up just to watch me drown In the smoke around her face She said, “slow… you don’t need to rush” But she stayed right in my touch Mary, don’t call my name like that Not the one I’m trying to lose You got hands like a match on gas And a mouth that bends the truth Every drag like a lover’s pull Every breath like a loaded sin I say stop—but my lungs stay full Every time I take you in She don’t kiss like she means goodbye She don’t move like she’s unsure Got a way of getting inside Anything you try to ignore Said, “you ain’t half as clean as you claim” While her fingers traced my doubt If I’m guilty, she fans the flame Till there ain’t no putting it out She said, “truth don’t come this slow” But she never lets me go Mary, don’t call my name like that Not the one I’m trying to lose You got hands like a match on gas And a mouth that bends the truth Every drag like a lover’s pull Every breath like a loaded sin I say stop—but my lungs stay full Every time I take you in Is it her or the way I fall? Is it smoke or something real? She don’t have to ask at all— She just knows what I will feel Every night like a backslide prayer Every touch like I crossed a line If there’s mercy waiting somewhere… It ain’t in these hands of mine Mary… don’t look at me that way Like you know I won’t walk out I’ve been gone since yesterday I just ain’t said it out loud Mary, don’t call my name like that Let it die in the way you move You got truth in the things you lack And a lie that feels like proof Every drag like a lover’s pull Every breath like I’m giving in I say stop—but I never do Every time I take you in Morning comes but she don’t stay gone Just a ghost in the back of my head I don’t know if I’m holding on… Or just doing what she said