take my place for a day
stand on my corner, wear my clothes
and you'll learn a thing or two
about a person or two
that no one knows

find yourself in an open oven
baking
your dirty laundry on your sleeve
the stink in your bones;
life's leaf of love, burnt in undertones
telling jokes to folks whose cheeks have already been cashed
an eye's pair glare
a piercing stare is neither here nor there
pain without reason makes you scream
a little bit beyond civilization

watching manufactured imperfections
drive by on the daily
tears are beautiful when they stream down your face
if your face wasn't dirty and your life not labeled 'disgrace'
so, a piece of cardboard in your hand will suffice
with letters and words
gambled on a pen point's price
i'm not afraid of dying, but i used to love to live
now i beg on my corner, hoping these people will give

some words are too literal, others just the same
when you think the worst of your day is over,
let me give you my name
it's not been spoken in 10 years, it's 'a crying shame'
because it was handsome once, like my face