Sweltering

The old man looked at me
And talked about the timeless adage
About having fire in your eyes, and he said
"You kid, your eyes are just burning."
And then I woke up
And my irises were sweltering
But I shook my head
"No," I said,
"You’re wrong. I don’t have bad dreams
And I don’t talk in my sleep
That is for people
Who give all their secrets away
Willingly."

He told me I was wrong
That he was there the night she came in
Stumbling up the stairs
Talking about lovers who never loved her
And he heard my cries from the sleeping world
Because while not awake, I knew

He was there the night
I tossed and turned from missing you
And I reached out grasping
And I could not find your hand
So I picked up a pen
And I wrote quickly
All the things
We never
Got
To
Say

And I said, "No,
That is for people that give all their secrets away."
"There is fire in your eyes."
Yes;
I am burning
Cold skin,
Warm heart
"I know," I said.
I know.