Providence St.

On Providence St.

We cursed ourselves to sleep

Twelve years on plastic sheets

Then braces after baby's teeth

It's where we were raised

A section 8 estate

The wards of waitress wage

The heirs of mother's maiden names

A little overweight

Clothes safety-pinned in place

Birthdays on layaway

The years our tears turned ticker tape

The shake in your voice

And shoulders like a boy's

You never had a choice

You never looked your age

The gentlemen's gaze

And seven generations

Of love framed in quotations

Is this the way grown men behave?

You went from bated breath

To plainly bored to death

You went from pink to red

But you just smiled and shook your head

On Providence St.

Where we turned seventeen

Still halfway in between

The love we seek

And loves we leave

They led you away

Your fingers laced together

Oh faithful young offender

I remember every frame

A little overweight

Clothes safety-pinned in place

Our single saving grace

Those years our tears turned ticker tape