i, melvin

mascara hides the sleepless nights

years of abuse

the downs and highs

a lonely drunk staggers on stage

weathered and worn

battered and broken

i feel my age

like a puppet on strings

look he strums and he sings

i feel like a cartoon

i'm alone on the stage

i'm the man on the moon

i'm the deer in the headlights

i'm the fish in the bowl

i'm on automatic pilot

i am remote controlled

just a second guitarist

playing on the 3rd string

i'm the disclaimer

i'm a walking routine

i'm happily a cog

stand me up

plug me in

like a robot i play all the songs

with a grin

i am eric melvin