Forgotten Portrait

I've been here before
But, never with company
There's beauty in the madness
Of someone else's longing to be seen

To not slip through the cracks
To fall into the black
And be alone forever
Known by nobody

I had a dark dream and
Awoke to turn to tell
It to a ghost

I put all my ghosts into my words
And then erase them till they're smoke
Floats across my page
Falls into my paints

And lines the pockets of my coat
To haunt my lonely days

And maybe we'll both die
Maybe I will die for you
A little stranger in her sunday best
But what else could I do?

To be anything but lonely is worth
A shot at being only
A forgotten portrait hung inside
A gallery to view

Rooms built of emotion
As awkward as a sonnet writ of stone
Or even the comfort of someone like me
Who stumbles on their own
Lack of common sense
A backwards wrong end mess

Dressed in shabby clothes
And who but you would be impressed?

What maniacal artist
Cursed the canvas
Dipped his brush in fate
And painted my face beside you
Thinking I could guide you

Obligation thoroughly dictates
I stay sane in the face of rage
So for your sake I'll be brave
Thank God you saved me

And maybe there's an exit
And it's light is up ahead
Maybe art for art's sake only isn't all that bad
To be anything but useless
If there's just a chance, I'll choose it

Even if it means
Consequently
I'm doomed a muse instead

Or confined to a forgotten portrait hanging in your head