Calories & Iron

Morning calls, my screen is open at my bedside

With messages from friends I didn't read

Close my eyes and count to three

Then I get up and walk around to lie back down again

And let the pixelations unravel me

Till there's nothing left underneath

Be vibrant Michael Simon

Beside all your paper tigers

There's nothing left to savor

Except calories and iron

I grew up in private schools with holes in my uniform

And bullies that talked down the name of my street

My folks gave their livelihoods for me

Junior year, I fell into the songs of Tweedy

Learned every verse to YHF and Summerteeth

Till something unlocked underneath

Be vibrant Michael Simon

Beside all your paper tigers

There's nothing left to savor

Except calories and iron

And if you find yourself

Behind your hurdles all expired

Remember you're not vacant

And there's nothing all that dire