well it might be light left over from a TV show a time traveler changes bodies in a bright green glow what did you want to be after you grew up before you gave up on taking a sip from offered cup she says I want to go back to camp and fall in love and I’m looking over at her and seeing she’s had enough but one of these days I’ll say something to really make her mad and lose the summer camp we never had on the Viaduct between the Puget Sound and the downtown on left the water glistens, on right a skyline’s found a mixtape on cassette deck that you made back as a kid that she pulled out when she came home out of shoebox you kept hid I know and realize that it’s wrong to want to be with someone just to be a part of the family but I wanted you as a sister, you were one that started fad of speaking of the summer camp we never had put the seed into the soil and watch the tree grow tall in the backyard that will fill with the brightest leaves to fall then tie a tire to swing ‘round strongest branch you can find with a rope tied with a knot that won’t ever come untied it won’t ever come untied the songs played on The Yacht Club’s kitchen radio where I washed dishes and made her up all those years ago I hate sometimes too how reluctant she can be to accept the effect of all of her beauty how she finds the truth in laughter, purges fear of being hurt even back there in the garden where I thought I had to blur all of what can make her worried into what can make her glad by singing of the summer camp we never had

the night turns to Easter, it’s my new birthday just like in a past life, that comes back when you say let’s have one more cigarette while parked in driveway let’s have one more cigarette before night turns into day Diana, Diana, "put your head on my shoulder" Diana, Diana, "wouldn’t it be nice if we were older" and I wouldn’t have to fight the high of a homesick with you around, I don’t look down, it all comes back with flick of just one more cigarette before I get on track just one more cigarette before smoke covers crack Diana, Diana, "there’s a place where lovers go" Diana, Diana, "sooner or later one of us must know" that it goes without saying, all these songs in our heads reincarnate everything, even the regret it’ll be church in a few hours but we won’t be there to hear your sister singing, instead our throats will tear from just one more cigarette before I go inside just one more cigarette, before away you ride Diana, Diana, "I saw the harbor lights" Diana, Diana, "don’t worry baby, we’ll make it alright" with just one more cigarette, just one more cigarette just one more cigarette when we get to heaven we’ll walk down the streets paved with gold when we get to heaven I know we won’t have to grow old when we get to heaven we’ll stand on the top of the sun when we get to heaven away from dark fields we’ll run

you know it’s good to be back home but I’m almost out of beer and I see you are too….and I’d love tobe sentimental but I can’t stay unless there’s something to drink with here…because you know, thinking about the old times, that’s only good when you’re drunk and it’s about to wear off now so I gotta cram it in now while I can the last summer of the millenium I worked at the Boathouse downtown the waitstaff full of beautiful girls I'd go on my night off to see who's around Cara said there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's the bar right down the street I must have missed it on my way to the place couldn't tell on account of the heat Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching) Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun the Boathouse on the harbor a boat can pull right up and park there while it’s owner drinks from big ol’ jars they use as cups holding the rainbow colors of all of Homer’s long island iced teas and them girls all working at that bar are where that rainbow leads Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching) Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun we could go to TG’s (we could go to TG’s) we could go to Norm’s (we could go to Norm’s) we could go to Friends’(we could go to Friends’) or Peg & Lou’s upon Sheridan north keep going past the Kenosha border and fly right on into Racine and end up lost on streets with names instead of numbered easily poke my head in the kitchen to see the Moon boys on the line Dave and Chris not related at all but they hang out every night you know it's even hotter in the kitchen than a wet dream donkey punch from the sight of all the waitresses grabbing their plates nine at once Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching) Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun we could go to Bourbon Street (we could go to Bourbon Street) we could go to Buoy's (we could go to Buoy's) we could go to Carl's (we could go to Carl's) or Fec's Place to play some oldies they got a jukebox stocked with rock n' roll bartender skips if she don't like and anything that you play by mistake she'll say that it's alright well now Monica, Marissa and Kelly lived together in one big house they put Chris Moon up for awhile after his girlfriend kicked him out it was the 4th of July but fireworks were not necessary for me everyday was full of explosions I had yet in my young life to meet Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun we could go to Harborside (we could go to Harborside) we could go to the Port (we could go to the Port) or come back to the Boathouse (back to the Boathouse) all part of what we call the four corners, along with Paddy-O's where end for last call every night before going cross the street to the diner to hang out til 4 or 5 Carissa and Annie, the owner's nieces drinkin' with their Mom at the deck bar Carissa's gonna get a job here in the fall Chris Moon will fall in love with her so hard we'll both get fired but Annie will get us jobs at her restaurant on the Interstate and Captain Mike's will get rebuilt and we'll all be first mates Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching) Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun Kimmy was frying (Kimmy was frying) Mindy was burning (Mindy was burning) Kelly was aching (Kelly was aching) Heather was hurting (Heather was hurting) and you could see there'd been a fire at Captain Mike's underneath the hot June sun but there's plenty of places left downtown where we can have some fun and Kimmy was frying and Mindy was burning and Kelly was aching and Heather was hurting and Shannon was flirting Samantha was blurting and Heather was toking Carissa was smoking and Sarah was my friend but she was gone by the end and I remember back late at the Boathouse when it’d be the end of the night and I’d be trying to close up with Kristin and Carissa trying to get out their early to make last call for Paddy-O’s and I’d be sweeping by the popcorn machine, makin’ it look real neat for Joyce and we’d put some songs on the jukebox and Kristin would call over and say “Josh! play that one…y’know, how does it go?” I’d say, “I’ll play ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ play ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ that’s right Kristen, it’s ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ we’d play...

dear Jonathan Richman, do you remember me I’m the girl that wrote to you from ages 9 to 15 my sister went backstage at one of your shows she told you all about me how all your songs I did know and you wrote down your address for her to give to me you said that I should write you sometime just to what’s up to see and so I wrote you and you wrote me back I didn’t think it was unusual to just write somebody back you’d tell about your kids, draw me pictures I’d ask if your songs were true and you would say “sure!” you’d send me postcards from Italy, wherever you were on the road I thought you wrote back to every kid, I was too young to know then one day I stopped writing, it just felt a little bit weird I didn’t want to be a kid anymore, I just wanted to drink some beer and then I went to see you and after you played a song you asked is Diana out there somewhere in the crowd and I just froze up, I couldn’t say a thing and so you just moved on and next song began to play and I still feel bad about that, I wonder if you were hurt I wonder if you wonder what happened to me why last letter was never returned dear Jonathan Richman, I want you to know how much your letters meant to me even if you off I did blow maybe somebody I’ll come see you and introduce myself backstage and even if you don’t remember me I’ll say “hey Jonathan thanks”

when there was a spark that started this thing, I took the moment and I turned it into a ring that I’d have always to give just to you during a walk on an Elizabeth Street sight of sign on the corner would greet and be perfect vision to finally descend as we’re glad to be back at a place that we’ve never been time changes the words said so much til they’re gone or they’re used as a crutch to walk past every girl that goes floating by so I don’t have to think, I don’t even try to let search begin and in action drown I’m first flying high and then crashing down on Elizabeth Street, where the sidewalks never grow cold on Elizabeth Street where I’ll watch you grow old I want to be on an Elizabeth Street I need the hope to lift grip and pass so I can try to see in the glass the reflection that right now I need to be arrow to finally lead back to to Elizabeth Street where we’re finally off on our own brother and sister sharing same road as a home in the evening on an Elizabeth Street

run into you while home for holiday you laugh and smile but I can’t feel the same way cause I still see the girl once such a friend tell me when did the neverending summer end my heart rises up to send a piece to help yours mend tell me when did the neverending summer end I see the rest at bars and grocery stores they’re as sad as you, maybe even more thatI still see the girl once such a friend tell me when did the neverending summer end my heart rises up to send a piece to help yours mend tell me when did the neverending summer end empty parking lots I could not let contain we said goodbye before I could explain that I still see the girl once such a friend tell me when did the neverending summer end my heart rises up to send a piece to help yours mend tell me when did the neverending summer end and I still see the girl once such a friend tell me when did the neverending summer end my heart rises up to send a piece to help yours mend tell me when did the neverending summer end

she came from a Catholic family, the last to fall off of the tree I met the middle who told me and hinted of a history and right away then I would dream that she’d come home and then see me and recognize the common soul from all those lives ago and dear Lord how I miss her, bring back home the youngest sister she had to go far away to see what fate may await when she said she had to leave, I was as brave as I could be so I said goodbye and kissed her and cried for the youngest sister when I met her I recognized an ancient light behind her eyes that we shared in all our past lives when we were at each other’s side it took time to find her again but there she stood my old friend from childhood dreams and fantasies, the one again I’d meet and dear Lord how I miss her, bring back home the youngest sister she had to go far away to see what fate may await when she said she had to leave, I was as brave as I could be so I said goodbye and kissed her and cried for the youngest sister bring back home the youngest sister, bring back home the youngest sister if there’s a God up in the sky, I need now at least to try to break my vow and pray for first time as a man to say this soul’s split in half and yearns for the youngest sister’s there comes a time in all these lives when we must part and say goodbye and wonder if we’ll meet again whether in this life or the next but I can’t wait that long and even though I know it’s wrong I’ll sacrifice patience for faith to have her here this coming day and dear Lord how I miss her, bring back home the youngest sister she had to go far away to see what fate may await when she said she had to leave, I was as brave as I could be so I said goodbye and kissed her and cried for the youngest sister

the preacher rambles on at the ceremony I’m living in a flash-forward memory as a child imagining his sister at alter the twist of retrospect and living causing heart to halter I am the narrator controlling the flow moving out of tunnel in which creature’s eyes will glow a slight of hand the author practices to exploit every instance of coincidence the old sifting pattern perfected debate between the theories projected the wedding will be setting of the play’s intermission the sticky southern air only missing her presence hey Paul Auster won’t you take care of my baby hey Paul Auster maybe take her out for coffee if you walk down Willoughby and both make the same turn maybe my favorite author can be watching over her I listen for the songs played in the background throughout rehearsal dinner cutting through the combined sound to bring up calm contained at center of connection to feel her grace from far away without feeling abandoned a way to know you’re dreaming is to look at the clock twice if it doesn’t say the same time, you’ll wake up tasting rice riding back to bed and breakfast drunk in the backseat my sister and fiancée upfront looking for right street my love flew out last minute for the audition I ran with my cell phone listening in kitchen I wanted her to come with me to keep panic at bay and pose for picture with my sister on her wedding day hey Paul Auster won’t you take care of my baby hey Paul Auster help her get up on the marquee I’m singing out to you because I can’t sing to God even if I had the faith I haven’t used it in so long I wish I didn’t notice the judgment every time it passes from all my sister’s friends and relatives glances my 8th-grade best friend called out of nowhere to tell me that he just married some girl cause God didn’t want him to be lonely he said God didn’t want to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want me to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely you mentioned Kenosha in two books and I asked you why at the book signing you said to read the only book of yours I hadn’t tried your grandma shot your grandpa in my hometown and your father was cut off all his life, his communication faltered paddle deeper through downtown, overflow will soak socks time travel may occur from a creaking porch swing as it rocks you don’t know what to wish for, where or what to call a home time’s running out better get back and face family alone here comes the shore, closer and closer peripheral sees water wetting all the parellels the opposite of optimism vs. the epic of the everything oh that ferry back and forth, how love to hear her sing hey Paul Auster won’t you take care of my baby hey Paul Auster listen to her music carry past your open Brooklyn window heading out for Seattle ducking all the epiphanies raining down to kill duck upstairs from reception to the white walls and linen caught between the confrontation and happiness to be had she writes she loves me in the snow, stops at first letter of my name after I make fun of her and make her think that I’m ashamed but God didn’t want to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want me to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want me to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely can each loose thread be traced back directly to the source don’t ya end up with nothing if you pull and try to force the answer into light before it’s ready to view before every variation is ditilled into precious few if I can’t wrap this up, I’ll say you can’t always either you trapped the man in vault and could not get him out as the writer but you made your inability center of story admitting failure as possible way to glory but Mr. Auster you must consider that the man in vault could have gotten out to be with her I put that book down knowing there was still a solution so tell me you were wrong if you think I’m proving it hey Paul Auster won’t you take care of my baby hey Paul Auster keep her safe for me to see in the meatpacking district tonight now 3 AM yeah you write out the prayer and I’ll sing it as a hymn, I’ll sing that God didn’t want to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want me to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely God didn’t want me to be lonely, God didn’t want me to be lonely