Turpentine Chaser

This paint has been tasting of lead

& their chips will fall as they may,

but it's not just my finish that is peeling,

& it is not alone fleeing these walls.

Well sooner of later this cold

it's gonna break

so our hands will be warm again,

but all I want is not to need you now.

And sooner or later this code

it's gonna break

& our words will be heard again,

but all I want are vows of silence now.

This turpentine chaser's got kick

& the rag that it's soaked in is rich.

The fumes aide the pace of my cleaning

& as soon as I'm done I am gone.

The frightening facts

we've been facing our backs

for so long now

are begging for eyes

to bear witness to lies

& indifference.

Now we're saying aloud

the things we've declared in our silence.

The new coats of paint will not reaquaint

broken hearts to broken homes.