Summer of the Gun

Now that you know
Do you feel safe hidden in plain sight?
Extend the hand I thought I would follow
Cum-soaked cracked concrete, the summer of the gun
His voice had a short moment of echo
With a promise that burrowed inside me
And like an echo, it took a while to fade
As he tried to guess my age
Fragile worlds worldbuilding, I’ll meet you there
It’s softer seasons fade, you’ll feel it in the air
And all of that feedback you have in your ear
Blurs out all memory of each blurred out year
Me and you won’t speak again
Still tell yourself I’ll always be your friend
Northbound, east side
And did it feel safe keeping a veiled life?
A living conflagration is throwing my shadow
Now burned into pavement, the summer was not done
Asks me softly, «What brought you to these ends?»
«It gives me back a part of me I’ve lost»
Then hands me all that I asked for
Eyes cast low and says I’m worth more
(I felt the sun come through the drugstore window
In softer seasons, your bruises all clear
And even if I change, I don’t think you’d know
A softer season that lasts for a year)
Me and you won’t speak again
Still tell yourself I’ll always be your friend
The leaves will fall slow, unobserved
And I’ll be strong, I’m strong here in this world