I carry these things

I CARRY THESE THINGS (E A D G B E)

Never full, never empty. Always looking out for what’s ahead of me.

Never tired, never rested. Always on my way home, always on my way home.

I carry these things in a paper cup. Heaviness falls like a small raindrop. These things in a paper cup. Heaviness falls, heaviness falls.

 

Never worse, never better. Always on my own, always together.

Never ready, never late. Always right here, always in the right place.

I carry these things in a plastic bag. Heaviness hangs from the roof — look out! It leaks.

But it’s not so bad.

Heaviness falls, heaviness falls.

But it’s not so bad.

 

Never fine, never broken. Always listening for the words unspoken.

Never argumentative, never agreeable. Always looking out for things unseeable.

We’re always looking out for the things unseeable.

 

I carry these things around my neck. Easy to forget what you meant to protect. These things around my neck. Heavy, heavy.

These things; heavy, heavy. These things around my neck.

Heavy, heavy.