April 30, 1987

BOOK OF LIES
April 30, 1987

This poem was written not about a relationship I was in, but about a couple that I knew in college that seemed to be together, but live very separate lives.


We awoke again this morning with suspicion in our eyes
And we wondered what the time was when we stumbled in last night
We had travelled separate highways, different strangers on our arms
Now our meeting eyes deceive us with the sound of the alarm

Is our book of lies still open from last night?
Did we have to make an entry on the first clean page in sight?
The book lays used and ragged in the dressing table light
Will the wisdom from its pages spell beginnings of the fight?

I spent last night just thinking of your warm and tender touch
Of our early days of love and sorrow before the shiny turned to rust
As I withdrew across the state line I could almost see your eyes
In the mirror, in the darkness, I could see them start to cry

The signs passed by the car window like a dozen sinking ships
And I thought of us together, my first kiss upon your lips
As I pulled into the driveway, I glanced into our room
And I saw that you were not alone, your rendezvous in bloom

Is our book of lies still open from last night?
Did we have to make an entry on the first clean page in sight?
Was the couple in our bedroom you and Mr Right?
Did you forget about our romance in the passion of your flight?

I stepped out of the shower into our bedroom prison ward
I'm laying on the bed without you, the luxury I afford
Somewhere in your dreamless sleep you enter in all your grace
I felt a chill about you and a tear fall from your face

We awoke again this morning with suspicion in our eyes
And we hug each other laughing to avoid the start of crying
No one starts explaining, we don't even have to try
We just race from loveless bed to write our growing book of lies