Second attempt at the story of my life reduced to a 3x5 card. I will likely be editing this a lot, but I think it's fun to post its evolution.

In 2002, I watched my past settle into piles of ash 10 feet off of second street. Proof of my existence now resides in my head. I have no past. The village via Texas, via Panama, via Florida-- a military brat gone A.W.O.L. and adopted. My brother, built-in-best-friend-conservative, and I, socialist (mostly), bond by criticizing each other's ideas on economics, usually sharing a soda and a laugh. In the village, we were strangers. Dirty clubs, the ugly-pretty people, hipsters, black hair, pretension-- the DNA for a retired "rock star". I came to college with my pen loaded and cocked.

Truth Cannot Be Stolen

I sat curbside on the corner of a dead-end road in San Antonio. How'd I get there? Florida, Panama, small town. Something as absurd as a last minute decision to take up door-to-door sales equals a lifetime record of soliciting. I prayed to avoid arrest. Some of us drop-out for drugs--some of us drop-out to work. My hands are older than my peers. They've been used.

Jeremy pushed me downhill in Panama. I waved at Pudgy as I passed. I've been waving ever since. Good little Air-Force brat gone A.W.O.L.

Adopted, and we're off into the village.

They held me down. They cut my hair. Mom thought hundreds of braids and seashells were beautiful. To them it was strange, and I was stranger. I cursed my mother until college.

Suddenly, the seven-year itch leaves me three months in Maplewood. I hope he's still scratching. I hope he gets crabs.

The song I will never finish. I was humming it a bit today and thought I should write it down before I forget it forever.

For once, I simply ask of you
to give in to this moment
and know what it is to float
I've always
had these dreams that I could fly
pushing myself
closer to the edge to test
everything
seems to hinder my wings
I feel a burden
that I can no longer bear

If I jump
will I fall
with faith bring me back to you
will the tears fall like floods from my eyes
will they be tears of fear
or tears of love (or joy, I can't decide)
will you lift me up
am I asking too much
to ask you
to give in to me

A heart that breaks
replays every mistake
thoughts claw
like a cat in a box

My veins pump hard
all this blood
all this tar
You don't get to
quit cause you're bored

If I jump
will I fall
with faith bring me back to you
will tears fall like floods from my eyes
will they be tears of fear
or tears of love
will you pick me up
am I asking too much
to ask you
to give in to me