Put It On Again

Found a picture from a year I couldn’t wait to end. A borrowed shirt, a crooked grin, An arm around a friend. I don’t remember where we went. I know I wanted more. I left it by the window. It used to live in a drawer. Put it on again. I almost had it then The summer through an open door, The voices coming in. I’m getting older. It’s strange to hear me say. Still getting all the words wrong In exactly the same way. Someone asks me what to do. I look behind me first. Then give them what I think I know And hope that something works. My father used to say, “We’ll see.” It used to make me mad. I said it twice this afternoon. It didn’t sound so bad. Put it on again. I almost had it then The summer through an open door, The voices coming in. I’m getting older. It’s strange to hear me say. Still getting all the words wrong In exactly the same way. Someday, this will be “back then.” The light across the floor. Someone laughing in the kitchen. I go to hear what for. Put it on again. No, let it play this time. I missed the first few words, But I know the next few lines. I’m getting older. Tonight, I don’t much mind. Somebody’s singing with me, A little out of time. A little out of time. Let it play.