desilvering

The silver is peeling Behind the glass I catch him breathing When I hold my breath A trick of the light A fault in the wire I don’t know this man But he’s wearing my clothes He’s wearing my skin But it doesn't quite fit Wiping the steam away Just to fog it up again Wiping the steam away Just to breathe on it again I scrub at the smudge But the smudge is underneath I scrub at the smudge But the smudge is underneath Step out of the loop But the loop is a cage I swallow the key And complain I’m locked in The left eye twitches But the reflection is still He’s judging me now From the medicine cabinet Waiting for the slip Waiting for the quiet sabotage Wiping the steam away Just to fog it up again Painting the canvas Just to tear it to shreds again I scrub at the smudge But the smudge is underneath I scrub at the smudge But the smudge is underneath Circling, circling, circling the drain Staring at the glass till the pattern complains I won’t get well if I don’t want to I won’t get well if I don’t want to Pouring out the cure just to swallow the disease I’m doing it on purpose I’m doing it on purpose Round and round The mirror is a sinkhole The mirror is a sinkhole He looks just like me But entirely hollowed out He looks just like me But the eyes are pointing in I’ll just stand here Keep him company Until the silver flakes away Turn the lights out Turn the lights out Turn it off Turn it off