For You, Pal

and happiness, what is that to you

is it a cigarette in your hand and the sun in the sky

everyone loves you and no one really does at all

does it make you happy to know you won't let them in

my sheltered dearest friend

how I wish you the best

I wish that you would fall in love again

and you wouldn't be afraid this time

and I wish that they loved you as much as you need

I wish they didn't break you

I wish you could be appreciated for being much more

than the cute girl with the red hair

and to some people, you are

but I hope to God it's real this time

I hope you feel like I've felt

and that they let you keep it 

because taking it away is nearly unbearable

I hope I never lay by your side in a hospital bed

because you coughed your lungs out

or you finally let go of the railing

you are much more than you think

and you aren't as strong as you believe

I see things slipping out of cracks

I hear them crawling from your teeth

I don't suppose you know I catch them

but in fact, I really do

I catch the way you miss them

these people who grew so close to you

these people who wormed their way in

and made you fall apart

when you deserve to be held on to

no one else is quite like you

and how did they throw away those loving eyes

and perfect smile for nothing

how did they know you

know you of all people wouldn't ever tell

would only imply

make you feel more than the world was under your feet

and leave

gone

.

how could they have loved you

how did he

he called you a liar

how did he

he scared you to death

how did she

she stole your breath and kept it

these thieves took pieces you'll never get back

and I want to make up for it

find you a someone to make you feel whole 

and you'll find them one day

things will fall into place

you'll speak freely and wholly

you'll be okay again, dearest

and my kids will love your kids

and in our eighties we won't need love

we'll be the golden group of hooligans 

with grandkids in derby

and daughters making more money than our sons

and these people who've broken you

won't even cross your mind

and if they do it won't hurt you

and it won't have for a while