150 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
150 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
I heard the old man's voice break
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Stutter once then stop it, I heard
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A sentence started confidently
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Halted by the sudden absence of a word
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Stumbled and he sputtered, trying to find it back
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Something once so simple gone now
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When he finally gave up, told me
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"Aw, it's like hell getting old"
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When you came into the store
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Did you know you'd show me your scars?
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I had a heavy heart
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He carried a door
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It's shattered pane all wrapped in plastic
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And he asked if I could fix it
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Come by a little later
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Help him put it back on hinges
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"See, I'm far too old to lift it
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And it's not for my house, it's my son's"
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When you opened up the door
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What is it you thought you'd find?
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Nobody flinch
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Later I came by
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And backed into the driveway
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Got out to find him waiting there
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To lead me through the side yard
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To back behind the house
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Where the door frame stood empty and
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Helped me keep it steady
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While I hammered all the pins in
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Then later on the porch
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We somehow got to talking
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He told me of the house
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And how his son is schizophrenic
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So they purchased it for him
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The medication working
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And they figured it would help him fit in
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Help him lead a normal life
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But the pills made him sleep too much
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And he couldn't keep a job as a result
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So one day he just gave up on taking them
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And that day she had called you
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He'd locked her outside of the house
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How quickly did you get there?
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And what were you thinking while walking up?
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What fears flashed in front of you
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Taunted you, walking to unlock the door?
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I remember it, Ed
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That story you told me
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Came back clear tonight
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Here while writing
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And you should know the feeling never left me
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The weight of my heart
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When you showed me the scars
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On your arms
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When I looked in your eyes
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And I heard what you'd said
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How you'd probably would've died
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Were it not for to care
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For your daughter and wife
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How he drove in the knife
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Still your son
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How you seemed to look through me
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To some old projector screen
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Playing back the scene as you
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Described it on a movie reel
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As real as the minute when it happened
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That memory moving behind me
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That moment that changed you for good
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And he drove to the house
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And pulled into the driveway
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Got out to his wife
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Waiting, frantic
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She'd come by to check
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Found the pillbox was empty
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Went out to the pharmacy
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To fill up his prescription
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And came back to a locked door
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And could not get back in
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She'd knocked and she'd knocked
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But he wasn't responding
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You put the key into the lock
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And turned it
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Felt the bolt slide away
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Slowly open
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Went into the hall
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His son held a knife
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Standing off in the shadows
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Lunged forward and tackled him
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Stabbing him over and over
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And breaking that window
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He fled up the staircase
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The ambulance came
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Stitched and filled him with blood
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While the cops took his son
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With his wires so tangled
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His father was a stranger
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And I sit in my apartment
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I'm getting no answers
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I'm finding no peace
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No release from the anger
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I leave it at arms length
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I'm keeping my distance
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From hotels and Jesus
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And blood on the carpet
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I'm stomaching nothing
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I'm reaching for no one
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I'm leaving this city and
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I'm headed out to nowhere
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I carry your image
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Your grandfather's coffin
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And Ed, if you hear me
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I think of you often
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That's all I can offer
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That's all that I know how to give
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___________________________
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Name Edward Benz, 27 Times
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Artist La Dispute
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Album Wildlife
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