Algernon

A woman leans in her chair Holds her face close to mine She’s curious, am I comfortable? Would I care to give it one more try? She holds the picture up while she studies my eyes I’m trying hard to recall the routine, but I can't and so I improvise This one's of my father Wearing ladies clothes I walked in on him once as a kid Must have thought nobody else was home It's a lie and she knows But there's no other use And anyway what you want and what you want to be are easily confused The moment stretches on Like the first day of school and I've answered wrong Like a self-enclosed short circuit goes around forever until it's gone A woman shrinks in her chair She says the picture's of you I have no idea what she's talking about but I nod my head as if I do Look at there such a strong man All the virtues of youth You led a good life by every account There were people who looked up to you I say enough is enough You have found me out You have called my bluff I don't know anything about this stuff I’m just tired and I’m waiting for my wife to pick me up A woman slouched in her chair disrupts the silence to say The part of you that I love is still in there even if it doesn't know my name The moment stretches on Like the colonnade at the Parthenon It’s an unmarked grave but somebody's laid some flowers for Algernon A woman stirs in her chair But I hope that she stays Never seen her before in my life But strange, such a familiar face --- Algernon - Typhoon