Looking For Magic
And still I'm looking for magic outgrown When I had it I was too young to be wise about its use I just invented unlikely characters to talk to Doomed action figures to gory death at interstellar war shaded by an oak in my back yard Now the dreams The monuments for that which I think was back when I feared reprisal enough to say it was not I can only imagine what the invented say to some other grubby child Melted Dr. Crusher and shish kabobbed Thundercats screaming "OH MY GOD WE CONCEDE DEFEAT!" But inevitably, he or she will be course corrected by starchy authority: The moment you clear five feet, things are your responsibility, meaning prioritize what's been valued by generations before you. It doesn't matter why, just get hired for a job you'll despise. Like expected, you'll be straight. Like mercury, find a bride. If you're uncertain about your future together, it usually helps to have a child. It might seem like most families are all kinds of insane, but all the same, carry forward the name. Such muted magic in the masses shuffling dutifully through drudgery Shirking what their spirit's saying 'cos Princess Portly is getting mad at Tastee Freez where the workers get twelve bucks an hour and still don't seem to care that she wants that milkshake now but instead, the indignity of a two minute wait all because a prospective ice cream dispenser was fucking around writing poems all day Most of us will cave Most of us will hate it Stretch our dismay across our faces in convincing smiles 'til we can't take it Putting peanuts aside from each paycheck for a budget friendly escape It's just how life is, the franchise manager will proclaim We pay so we can work and are we work so we can pay: This is how we do things here. This is how you will do things here. Sweep the floor faster with more obvious pride or get a verbal warning before you're swept aside. We'll tell you what to say. We'll pull your cord and you'll say it. Unless the customer specifically asks for the truth, never over explain it. When you work retail you better check your conscience at the door. It's the customer's idiot fault if they don't know this is war. Unreliable magic in assembly line matrimony making love a matter for lawyers Joining two people by the power of God who the paperwork says has a job at the local circuit court If I tell someone I love them If they believe me and reciprocate every day we find ways to be wed Ceremony that never needs to be done once we've begun Minus red tape to restrict our movement if we feel it ending and need to move on How can we know abiding love will carry us through all our days without the reinforcement of an accountant reading off our list of tax breaks?: For richer or poorer, meaning fifty/fifty odds we end up suing each other Forsaking all others except the government whose permission must be attained before we even consider running away I keep missing the magic inherent in simplicity I've decided to just stop looking so the magic can find me