Autumn, Southland Foothills

Even though our perfect world is not what we expected it to be
Our fading immaturity can shelter us from what we will not see
And we can dance away from our commitments
Pretend to thrive on independence
And tell ourselves that love is just a dream

Well we have lived two summers since our quaking hearts began to talk behind our backs
Still we point our fingers at ourselves and spend our days ignoring all the facts
And we can claim responsibility
For our mutual inability
To ease our rollercoaster off its tracks

We stand between the streetlight and the candle
With no handle on reality

We can hide our hearts behind our lovers 'til our fear and longing pass us by
And we've already learned to disregard what happens when you look me in the eye
And we can wrap ourselves in cold confusion
Ignore each other's vague allusions
And claim it isn't worth another try

Or we could find the strength and courage to surrender to each other's warm embrace
And try to once again believe the words of love upon another's face
We could shun our standard expectations
Retrieve our hearts from their vacations
And know each other's truths in our own space

Our affair has no predictable complexion
And no connection to reality

October 29, 1998