Shine - Petal

You’re the tick I found at summer’s end

Crawling around the back of my neck

I thought you were a sun spot I’d have memories of

But you’ve embedded yourself and you’re sucking my blood

I wish I was the kind of girl who sat in cafes mid day

Smiling with all my teeth showing

Maybe I’m just a parrot on your shoulder

Maybe I’ll be your next favorite placeholder, or maybe —

I’ll just shine

Like fog that’s grazing mountain tops

You barely even touched my arms

And I knew I wasn’t your girl

And I knew you weren’t my girl

And I wish I was the kind of girl who danced and played these games

Smiling with all my teeth showing

Maybe I’m just a parrot on your shoulder

Maybe I’ll be your next favorite placeholder, or maybe —

I’ll

And I’ve been practicing my party tricks

Moving the knife between my fingers

While I make my friends all nervous

Moving it faster and faster all the while hoping that I miss

And I know that I’m the kind of girl whose fire cannot be smothered

The kind who would meet their god, my Mother

Maybe I’m just the parrot on your shoulder

Maybe I’ll be your next favorite placeholder

But baby —

I’ll just shine