This Box Is Empty - Kevin Devine

she’s crossing out the details.

dusting off the picture frames, it’s saturday.

she’s been waiting for the phone to ring.

she’s been waiting all night.

but it doesn’t matter who’s on the line

as long as the voice works.

but you’re too scared of what you might say.

so you think it out on paper, hypothetical and safer.

while she’s thumbing through her catalogues,

picking birthday cards, her favourite stars.

i guess she’s lonelier than you.

and if this box is empty.

go out and find another one.

with a prettier design.

and greater depth inside.

and a lid to keep it all from spilling out.

and you can fill it up with letters.

back when things were better.

and both of you had blinders on

and story books together.

and you pretend it outweighs all the bad things.

and now she disconnects her phone, after the second ring.

and all the drama you can swallow.

never check your ego.

i guess no one’s lonelier than you.

and if this box is empty.

what if this box is empty.

what if if this box is empty.

what if this box is empty.