Palinopsia

I stared at you so long

Your silhouette's burned on my corneas

I've loved you long enough

My limbs still twitched when you took my head clean off

I was defined by someone I have bad dreams of

At least I knew who I was

I'll find you when I'm fragile for you

But don't fix me if I'm not broke

No, I don't breathe the way that I was born to

When I catch my breath, I choke

That takes me back when I was young

The innocence that you knew nothing of

Thank God I'm not who I once was

But I wish you knew me when I was still as soft

Last month, you called, but no one just calls

Thought something happened

With you, I'm shocked it hadn't

Find me when I'm fragile for you

But don't fix me if I'm not broke

No, I don't breathe the way that I was born to

When I catch my breath, I choke

I haven't healed how I had hoped

When I catch my breath, I choke

Drove back to my hometown, but I can't find our old house anymore

I've got good sense of direction, I just didn't expect it

Between all the chain stores

I knew it would change, but I wished not in the ways that made it pure

You used to know me so well, I tell you, "I'm still myself

Time's just run its course"

You loved the smell of gas and of the fresh-cut grass when we still had a yard

I take you back to the old days, the ones that made future shit so hard

Man, you know where to find me, it's not in my nature to go that far

I'm your open wound, and you never can tell

If it'll heal on its own, or if I'm desperate for help