Haunted Bonds

(Mama, can you hear me?)

(Still got your coat on the wooden chair...)

Cold water on the stove,

morning steam on the glass You said survive the winter and the

poverty will pass Hands cracked red from the bleach and the floor

Locking both deadbolts on an old wooden door I was angry at

the dark, you were fighting off the debt Swore I'd never forget

every quiet cigarette

Out on the fire escape,

shivering alone

Building up a castle out of brittle collarbones

I took your stubborn jaw,

I took your fragile pride Carried every secret that you tried to

keep inside Now the hallway

turns to water in my head...

Heavy is the thread that keeps us tied together

Torn along the seam through the freezing weather

(Hold on, hold on) I break like glass just to mirror your

face Carrying your ghost through an empty place

(Mama, I still carry your grace)

We yelled through thin drywall until the paint peeled back Two wounded

animals trapped along the track Apologized in silence over bowls of lukewarm

soup Running circles in the mind,

a generational loop

I saw you hold your belly when the letters turned to red

Balancing our hunger against tomorrow's bread I hated that you hurt,

hated that I looked the same

Now I sign my checks with your forgotten middle name

Are you proud of me,

or are you just relieved?

Did you ever get the freedom

that you once believed?

(hummmm) Forgive the boy that slammed the front door shut

He was bleeding out the pride you tried to cut

Heavy is the thread that keeps us tied together

Torn along the seam through the freezing weather

(I hear you now)

I break like glass just to mirror your face Carrying your ghost

through an empty place

(Mama, I still carry your grace)

Still got your coat on the wooden chair...

(Still smell the winter in your hair)

Rest easy

now.