Landline

I was a joyous child

If I ever was a child

Memories feel like dreams deferred

And time looks like a circle

All I wanted to do was pay drums like my brother

He picked up the saxophone and sounded like Dexter Gordon

I was a joyous child

If I ever, ever, ever

We used to get up before our parents on Saturdays and watch cartoons

We would fry eggs and put honey on them

Innovation was the key ingredient

My mom said that my teacher said

That I was one of the most focused kids in class

In my waking life, I didn't have a lot of pain

But I did have nightmares

I remember suffering spirits wailing at me

I would get migraine headaches

Still do

Sometimes I would get a fever and have surreal dreams

About worlds unknown

Filled with fear