Stay With Me

[Verse 1]
The sirens don’t sing
They scream
Red on brick
Red in the rain
You’re in the back
Gloves half on
Someone’s father
Someone’s child
Their chest
A wet paper bag
Rising
Then not
Time shrinks to inches
Your knees on metal
Your hands on bone
Your breath in their breath
[Chorus]
Stay with me
Breathe
I don’t care who you were
I care that you are
You are not a body yet
You are a story
Stuttering
On the edge of a word
I’m here for the part
Where you don’t give up
So don’t
Give up on me
[Verse 2]
Adult
Baby
Stranger with shaking eyes
Kid with a cartoon shirt
Doesn’t matter
Fear looks the same
Wide pupils
Dry mouth
You count
One and two and three and four
Ribs complain
Skin sweats under latex
You are tired
They are dying
Both of you
Out of time
And still
You press
You push the dark back
One inch at a time
[Chorus]
Stay with me
Breathe
I don’t care who you were
I care that you are
You are not a body yet
You are a question
Hanging
In the swing of my hands
I’m here for the part
Where we drag you back
So don’t
You don’t leave yet
Stay with me
Breathe
I’ll be the rhythm
You be the will to return

Male vocals, spoken word, emotional, slow soft start then build for chorus, slow soft again for verses