s t a r l e t

hold on

(small hand in large. small girl crying on lanky shoulder. shoulder to shoulder in the night, in the woods.)

one more time with feeling

(long talks. talking for the first time. first real love of many. loving many. loving all at once, not just once but all the time.)

try it again

(getting up each morning. going to bed each night. eating each day. taking the right pills.)

breathing's just a rhythm

(in and out. four counts. eight counts. sixteen counts. rise and fall with the wave of a wand, of a baton. rise and retreat.)

say it in your mind until

(principle-centred living. principles unwavering. there is right after all. there is wrong.)

you know that the words are right

(i love you. you're letting me down. be my father again. i'm sorry. you scare me. you lift me up.)

this is why we fight.