Green Beans

hyphen

i taste

paint fumes

in my

mouth and

i taste

acid

on my

tounge

i want

freedom

from these

paint fumes

i want

freedom

i've been hung

generic brands [or] green beans

there is a can in the corner

of the pantry

and it doesn't have an expiration date

we're both afraid to go near it

although it looks

to be some delectable green beans

and we both like green beans

we're both quite partial to green beans

and it looks to be some tasty canned green beans

yet

still

we

don't

go

near

we bought together this apartment

just out of college

and we made our share of crucial mistakes

forgetting that we lived together

at the tender age of 21

we bought generic brands

oh no

but yes we did

oh no

but yes we did

oh no

but yes we did

oh no

with all the nutrients soaked out

packaged in plastic

with sorry yellow labels peeling off

the damaged goods we scrimped and pinched for

try make it pretty

surviving on and living for the cause

that goal you know the cause

believe in it we're living for the cause

we climb to reach the stars

they

stay

so

far

away

two kids can make it on their own

it can't be hard to do

just get a job and an apartment

and some

furniture and shit

no need for chairs no need for something new

you can live secondhand

but then you know you're living secondhand

and then you wonder are you living

at all

beware of gas bills and electric

taxes and water

remember when they weren't there at all

but i believe you when you say

that we're okay

and we'll make it someday

if we keep on living this way

i believe you when you say

that we will be okay

and we'll make it someday

if we keep on living this way

i believe you when you say

that we will be

okay