Smokescreens

I can’t see, I can’t see
cried a woman who wanted
to know me
thoroughly
but I saw
clearly
through misty eyes
what she could see
what could be seen
my smokescreen
my smokescreen
fogging up, my whole life
causing pain, causing strife
but protecting me
from anticipated pain
until I heard, her next refrain…

I want to
get next to you
I can’t,
see
until you do
that your smokescreen
is in the way
blocking me
from needing to say
I love you, in every way…

- tick tock, tick tock -

and then I knew
what I had to do
so I took her hand
“That was part of my plan.” (wink)
and looked into
her searching eyes
and said sweetheart
let’s compromise
and said sweetheart
let’s compromise
but she thought and thought
and then she said
c’mon baby
don’t mess with my head.
just tell me honey
what do you mean

- tick tock, tick tock -

I said
I’m talking ‘bout your smokescreen
I said
I’m talking ‘bout your smokescreen

- tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock -

and we both knew
what had to be done
she wanted to scream
I wanted to run

but somehow we managed
in spite of the fears
in spite of the hangups
in spite of the tears…

that flowed when we saw
something rarely seen

- tick tock, tick tock -

the real person
behind the smokescreen
the Real Person
behind the smokescreen
the REAL PERSON
behind the smokescreen
the real person
behind the smokescreen