Ghost

How can a ghost with no figure or weight
stick deep in my side and cause so much pain
There he is at the crossing, there he is on the train
There he is when I stare through the mist of the rain

I thought that with time you would fade and you have
But invisible splinters are hard to pull out
I squeeze and I squeeze but to no avail
Your name sticks up sharp on my skin - devil's braille

Shadows of your face spin around and around
Like a worm in my brain that I have to dig out
You left fleas of madness and they've mingled with mine
So offspring in madness divide and divide

Brain cells disperse like bubbles away
On futile missions to find you again
They drift in their pairs and they cannot be still
So the void that I feel grows bigger to fill

Unrequited

Are my thoughts true

they tell me I love you

but I can't be sure

because such a notion

does not cleanly fit

into the lines of reality

such an idea is one that can only exist in the dark

for who knows how it will react in the light

where the scrutiny of lucidity might burn it to dust

that gets in my eyes

and I can't blink it away no matter how hard I try

am I feeding myself with lies?

I need something to make me feel whole

but keeping this inside is eating away at me

those worms of discretion writhe with vigour

they tickle me when I'm with you

so I can't help but laugh at the air

when really with each breath I'm breathing despair

because I know you'll let go of my hand all too easily

release me from embrace a moment too soon

my passionate kiss you'll return with a peck

but still I can't let go

can't hang up the phone

even though I know you will first

I'm just waiting

dangling like a telephone cord

for you to pick me up at your desire

assuage my fire