Static

by Michael Channing

the sun is creeping up
the western bedroom wall
i force myself awake
and stagger down the hall

one more
day
alone
with him
alone

cubby's dish is empty
lying on the floor
she's scratching at the screen
but won't go out the door

one more
day
inside
myself
inside

the static in my head
the arctic in my bed
some days i wonder if
i can feel at all
the numbness in my hands
the useless withered plans
i feel my roots sinking
as my leaves begin to fall

one more
day
alive
and dying

Liner Notes

It's hard to change when the future you imagine is more frightening than the hell that holds you. You become institutionalized.

Cubby, who is a cat, shows up again in a later song. I've never done that in song before, used a recuring character to tell a story. I should try it more often.

This would be a slow, sad ballad accented with the sound of rain or running water, or maybe changing television channels. I have done that before.