Lachrymal Nights
You’ve made me write sad songs
’cause you don’t sing for me anymore
I try to believe you never really cried
never really screamed, and you
were just a character in a song
I imagine the laughing hyena
is sad sometimes, and
the minor bird doesn’t feel major
they all have a scream
they all have a cry
Is there any way these are
a cathartic dip in the mud
with a wash and dry, no
trying to be in the movie of life
without a stunt double
makes falling hurt so much
makes singing turn sour
Let them say
the cartoon version is
funny enough to
laugh and cry and hiccup
But I haven’t seen it yet
You’ve made me write sad songs
’cause you don’t sing for me anymore
— Douglas Gilbert