Elliott Smith

you walk down alameda shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone
like some precious only son
face down, bow to the champion
you walk down alameda looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
thinking about your friends
how you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense
for your own protection over their affection
nobody broke your heart
you broke your own because you can't finish what you start
walk down alameda brushing off the nightmare you wish
could plague me when i'm awake
and now you see your first mistake was thinking that you could relate
for one or two minutes she liked you