don't be afraid to lay in the grass.
make blankets your yard!
don't be afraid to have the window open.
make shirts your warmth.
make the heat come in.
don't try to spit out all the oil in your belly.
give lights to dark and don't wear that raincoat!

a song is a backyard with too many trees and not enough grass.
but if you sing it long enough, well, at least you'll be singing.
and maybe every note that comes out of your chest
will turn back from its noise and harmonize with your breath.

- - - - - - - -

soon, i will lose myself, lake erie.
i won't come back to shore without the light.
so give us all a song to sing for sleeping
and we'll etch our voices out into the night.