open mic night (2012)
she said I want to feel you on the inside
he said I want to live in a penthouse
she said there are cobwebs in your heart
and he talked about pizza.
she writes all her own material.
she sang songs with titles like
You Touched My Arm and Made Me Warm
That September
Remember Me
he only plays covers when he plays in public.
he sang about fame, and fake tits, and being a junkie.
about blue and red stars over veins.
about arriving in the city with nothing but $20 and a backpack
and he drank scotch and coke to muffle his cough
and his mates against the back wall laughed
whenever he forgot the words.
her voice was honey
her eyes glistened
as she laughed and twirled
straddling the piano under fairy lights and red velvet
and I thought
maybe this is what it is to be beautiful.
but the mates against the wall had left by then
he had coughed and left for home
and the boy next to me blinked his eyes to stop them from falling shut
hoping I’d be happy to leave before the end of her set.
later, we walked home
along black streets and concrete
he ran his hand against the underpass wall
and said “she should be a country singer.”
it was the kindest thing he could think of.
and I realised
when he told me she was 'impressive'
what he really meant was
she is fat.
she said I want to feel you on the inside
he said I want to live in a penthouse
she said there are cobwebs in your heart
and he talked about pizza.
she writes all her own material.
she sang songs with titles like
You Touched My Arm and Made Me Warm
That September
Remember Me
he only plays covers when he plays in public.
he sang about fame, and fake tits, and being a junkie.
about blue and red stars over veins.
about arriving in the city with nothing but $20 and a backpack
and he drank scotch and coke to muffle his cough
and his mates against the back wall laughed
whenever he forgot the words.
her voice was honey
her eyes glistened
as she laughed and twirled
straddling the piano under fairy lights and red velvet
and I thought
maybe this is what it is to be beautiful.
but the mates against the wall had left by then
he had coughed and left for home
and the boy next to me blinked his eyes to stop them from falling shut
hoping I’d be happy to leave before the end of her set.
later, we walked home
along black streets and concrete
he ran his hand against the underpass wall
and said “she should be a country singer.”
it was the kindest thing he could think of.
and I realised
when he told me she was 'impressive'
what he really meant was
she is fat.