Astigmatism

A little kid turns the corner, quick on his feet My vision's no good no more; he's just a smudge in the street The colors blur in my eyes just like ink in the rain The city, soaked in its lights, is slowly washing away Everything is just a background, waiting to take shape and appear Inside my windshield eyes with Vaseline tears Muffled chuckles and leaky ceilings Hazy coffee stains, collectible keyrings A scrapbook of snapshots taken in shaky concealment Never trusted my love and her wallpaper feelings There's something so comforting about her uncertain arms There's beauty in danger, safety in harm A five dollar psychic offers bargain predictions Connecting my murdering a mantis to my moderate affliction Once when I was a child I ran to my door; upon grabbing the knob I crushed the prostrate bug inside of my palm I watched his little green frame fall far from my hand I guess his prayers were never answered by God, He got the upper hand Struck blind over time inside flashes in steps We all pay for our sins in the most subtle respects How quick we forget how fast the past is washed away Diluted in music, TV, and the talk of the day How slick a little kiss can get her bony hips to block the way Lend the world your ears and they'll just sweet-nothing it all away You made your bed Now, you must sleep Underneath the sheets There's something inside this house, footsteps by the couch It's all shade and shadows tracking the suspect silence down It's not the sounds they make, it's all the noises that we never hear Old cliches on attraction, raindrops after the weather clears Tapping fingers for living; counting out the notes The door ticks when it sits open and rattles when clicks closed Twelve lines, one in the light switch, a chip in the globe The radiator is always breathing, teeth clenched and lips float It's more than I bargained for, but nothing I can't handle I learned to listen for the kitchen, feel dust fall on the mantle Everything is done in inches, fingertips, and little skills Nothing is done quickly except tying shoes and electric bills The relentless drills, constant repetition, daily grind Same set of pants put on one leg at a time Every morning's filled with breath and the rest is just fine I never forget my mistakes but sometimes I forget I'm blind