When you embarked from my calloused fingertips
life's beauty flattened
strings broke at the sound of your name
and it's so hard to hum when you're crying

Temporarily my pen was the bow
to this paper violin,
but I always fell short of an orchestra

I poured my soul into verses
and traced your smile within
every word nonetheless

Perched on this lane of loneliness,
I played a cliche love song
for you and the world to hear

Hundreds of uncraved eyes stared
but your's were astray as I had hope
for a duet chorus

I had hope

But you just threw
a dollar in my hat
and walked away

Broken

I continued playing for passerbys
as a tear in tune with my heart
fell onto the not so tender note
that marked my debt to depression

Watching your sick momento blow away,
I emptied my cap and masked
my eyes behind it's brim til dusk

All I ever wanted was your two cents
and a pitch pipe