Kristen says I talk too much [1993]

Kristen says I talk too much about things that'll never be
Jeremy says I'm chasing ghosts
and Jon he just agrees and silently weaves a spell
I sit down on that tattered couch by the stereo
dim the lights and look out the window at the stars
windows of the buildings across the street glow against the cold
lean back on the orange curtain and squint back a sigh.

Kristen places her hand on my shoulder while I continue
my catharsis of Mozart and Saint-Säens
She looks at me like I'm not quite sane--I've never been
I sit down along with my book of papers and pencil
turn on the green lamp and plug in the christmas lights
it's St. Patrick's Day but I've never been one for schedules or calendars
take off my shoes and socks and place them on the floor.

Kristen chuckles at my inner child while I try my imitations
flipping through stacks of old pictures
from New Year's Eve and a formal a couple weeks ago
I sit down across the table from her and sip cammo
flip on the flourescent overhead and shoot billiards
the moon falls asleep and we realize we've been awake all night long
put on my hat and horn before we stroll off to our insanity.