-piece of Amy Winehouse-

when you step outside your skin

to look at the person you've made;

if you embrace the notions of those

dropped into the circle of your life

who want to sneak a dirty little peek;
if the music dies inside you
before it lingers outside you

and your legs drift weakly

and you can't keep up;

when none of them know you

but report that they know you

you'll likely retreat to darkness.

when the song is etched in your face

its colors running true in performance

and you're singing clearly

it’s working in your favor

and you’re less likely to kill yourself.

when the microphone

stands at the burn of your mouth

and what they see in front of them

is that which is sticking inside your throat

and it's late to recover clarity

and they tell you sternly

that you'd better go home

but you turn to sing where it's dark

and you've sung in that room

and you've come from that room

you'll likely die before morning.

 7/23/11