When the bus-shelter windows
and napkin-dispensers surprise with distorted reflections,
it's never the someone you're hoping to recognize.
When the rent is too high living here between reasons to live,
and you can't sleep alone, and your memories groan,
and the borders of night start to give.
When you can't save cash or conviction;
you're broke and you're breaking-a tired shoelace or a wave.
So long past, past-due.
A new name for everything.
When the one-ways collude with the map that you folded wrong,
and the route you abandoned is always the path that you probably should be upon.
When the bottle-cap ashtrays
and intimate's ears are all full with results of your breath,
and the threads of your fear are unfurled with the tiniest pull.
One more time, try.
Stand with your hands in your pockets
and stare at the smudge on a newspaper sky,
and ask it to rain a new name for everything.
Fire every phrase.
They don't want to work for us anymore.
Dot and Dash our days.
Make your face the flag of a semaphore.
All you won't show.
The boxes you brought here
and never unpacked are still patiently waiting to go.
So put on those clothes you never grew into,
and smile like you mean it for once.
If you come back, bring a new name for everything.