Navy Shorts

I thought I’d be over you, kid 

If I’d been older then 

If you’d had a better dad 

Bet I wouldn’t choke on your secret 

I still 

Grip it all in my head 

It’s welling out of my hands 

I feel you in broken strands of clothes 

Well, did you get your fill of me then? 

Would you give it back? 

Pretty please would you give it back 

If I begged? 

Tag you’re 

It! Don’t cheat 

Running for base so you can’t touch me 

There’s people around 

We look like 

Friends 

Till the end 

Saying, “I’ll protect you” 

Boy, you played a man, man, man man 

And I was the thing you played with 

While girls sat crisscross in class 

And paid no mind their skirts, 

Your fingers marred my shirt 

Curse my waistband, your hands forced in 

I can 

Play pretend 

Put navy shorts on my navy bruises 

You’re my boogie man 

We should have been 

Friends 

Till the end 

Saying, “I’ll protect you” 

Boy, you played a man, man, man man 

And I was the thing you played with 

I was the thing you…I was the thing you…played with 

But I’m not really over it kid 

I pushed, you didn’t go 

We grew out of our clothes 

One day you’ll push a stroller

You might 

Think of me 

Seeing your baby girl and whispering To her, 

“We’ll be 

Friends 

Till the end” 

Saying, “I’ll protect you” 

Dear God, I hope you’re a man, man, man, man 

Tell her: she’s not something to play with