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| tracy darling |  | 1. Patterns Every family outing is miserable Every Monday morning relief Every day at 4:30 I need a drink 'Cause it's been a rough day, rough week, rough life Every weekend the weather forecast calls For overcast skies Gray clouds hovering Over my house, my bed, my car, my life Every time I'm about to boil over Can't take it any more About to walk out that door The mood changes He changes And I simmer down Take it Stay 2. I Collect . . . Things I collect things Mainly blue jeans In different shades of indigo Of softness Flip flops and painted toes In different shades to match my highs, my lows I collect things Mainly a college degree A house in the suburbs Three kids and a husband And, yes, as you can see I've created the perfect little life for myself I collect things Compliments from friends Looks from strangers Place them in that box marked "Confidence - use as needed" I collect things Silence from my husband Love from my children Balance them in my heart Look down at the scale And find that Equally They weigh down my heart I collect things Mainly sunglasses To hide my brown eyes turned blue Mascara and a smile To cover The sorrow and the pain I collect things Mainly a too-quick laugh To silence the tears A too-quick walk To keep one step, two paces ahead Of direct questions Because, you see I collect things Lies and excuses Tuck them in my pocket Fumble for them when needed I collect things Memories of the good times Visions of laughter and smiles The perfect happy family living the perfect life I toss out all the bad times Deny they ever existed I collect things Sliced limes and Light beer Cold enough to chill my heart Petite Syrah and Wine glasses Large enough to numb my soul I collect things Mainly words and phrases Whole sentences Of real writers For inspiration For aspiration Words which touch my heart and soul and mind As no one else is able I collect things The traits of flawed main characters In the books I read Denial and Hope Stupidity But mainly Inaction Because, you see I collect things I cover and I surround I hoard and I hide Behind things | |
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