When she said
"Don t waste your wordsthey re just lies"
I cried she was deaf.
And she worked on my face until breaking my eyes
Then said"What else you got left?"
It was then that I got up to leave
But she said"Don t forget
Everybody must give something back
For something they get."
I stood there and hummed
I tapped on her drum and asked her how come.
And she buttoned her boot
And straightened her suit
Then she said"Don t get cute."
So I forced my hands in my pockets
And felt with my thumbs
And gallantly handed her
My very last piece of gum.
She threw me outside
I stood in the dirt where ev ryone walked.
And after finding I d
Forgotten my shirt
I went back and knocked.
I waited in the hallwayshe went to get it
And I tried to make sense
Out of that picture of you in your wheelchair
That leaned up against . . .
Her Jamaican rum
And when she did comeI asked her for some.
She said"Nodear."
I said"Your words aren t clear
You d better spit out your gum."
She screamed till her face got so red
Then she fell on the floor
And I covered her up and then
Thought I d go look through her drawer.
Andwhen I was through
I filled up my shoe
And brought it to you.
And youyou took me in
You loved me then
You didn t waste time.
And II never took much
I never asked for your crutch.
Now don t ask for mine.
|
|