Electrical Fence

Mr. and Mrs. At-Home-In-The-World
and their well-adjusted boy and girl
are frolicking on the patio
with a brightly-colored bouncing ball
a puppy dog is smiling, wagging
feel the weight behind me dragging
drop my problems in the sun
see them all rolled into one
call it me and try to run

I give notice at the office party
supervisor I'm so unhappy
I can't escape too soon
I shouldn't drink in the afternoon
There's an intern who I think is lovely
I feel her walk the floor above me
if she could read my soul
to me it might not look so dull
it's just a sweet and empty hole
such a sweet and empty hole

Everyday a little fear
dare me to relax right here
my nerves a little raw
from rubbing against my electrical fence
you might've imagined I had more sense

But I pass out in the mezzanine
and sleep through the intermission

and wake up right before the end
I won't make that mistake again
all around me people crying
I look down, you're dying
all shot through with pain
anything to entertain
keep the sentiment good and plain

Everyday a little fear
dare me to relax right here
my nerves a little raw
from rubbing against my electrical fence
you might have imagined I had more sense

Nothing borrowed, nothing gained
to this debt forever chained
it holds me to my place
so many numbers to erase
from right here over to that wall
for this much I'm responsible
but the territory I defend
I'll walk away from in the end
the territory I defend
I'll walk away from in the end
the end
© Mark Donato