Ani DiFranco
"Second Intermission"


second intermission 
anticipation 
you know the third act 
small talk drops out of the play 
you're standing in the lobby 
tightening your tourniquet 
waiting for it 
and then the bell sounds 
and the lights flash 
and there's all these questions milling around 
and there's no time to ask 

no bliss for little miss leading 
cuz she's learning about bleeding 
but what is love if not exquisite 
our only saving grace 
or is it? 
and somewhere inside your iris 
blooms the reflection of my surprise 
as you stroll past every last do not enter 
and touch me at my epicenter 
and the bell sounds 
and the lights flash 
and there's all these questions milling around 
and there's no time to ask 

I'm always trying to get there 
I never really get there 
to that quiet place where 
I accept myself 
instead I'm deep inside some high school 
locker room no clothing 
popping the zits of my self loathing 
under fluorescent lights 
and the bell sounds 
and the lights flash 
and there's all these questions milling around 
and you're too ashamed to ask 

second intermission 
anticipation 
you know the third act 
small talk drops out of the play 
and you're standing in the lobby 
tightening your tourniquet 
waiting for it 
waiting for it