It’s my job
My job

Is to be
Backwards

Eat a big can of dog food
with a picture of a puppy on the label
Tell everyone that puppy tasted good

Put on my shoes and socks in that order

Go outside nude in the rain
with a soap bar and a loofah
Tell everyone I’m Gene Kelly

My job
Is to be Gene Kelly

Get you laughing at me
Make you say “he’s crazy”
I’m your umbrella man
Taking the pissing sky to be my friend
so you can stay dry
and love the daffy anyway

Gene Kelly wasn’t crazy
But he kept singing
Gotta dance

In the old days
the Lakota called us heyoka
Contrary boys
Thunderbird dreamers stuck
with wings on the brain
all day and night
We heard them and we were cursed
To test the rules
Piss people off

Keep the kids away from them
they used to say
but they knew they needed us
because we let them sleep
Secure that the world
only gave the worst dreams
to some
and most people could follow the rules
and be safe at night

I have a dream that one day
I’ll be able to sleep

You think it’s easy to be Gene Kelly?

You better be glad I’m here
I’m the only thing
making you look sane
These days
You don’t know how to dance
Don’t know shit about the taste of food
Don’t know dope from hope
The noise of wings
from the song of your frightened hearts

Gene Kelly could smile when he danced his pain
And you loved to watch
You still watch though he’s been gone for so long

But I am not Gene Kelly
Not really
I’d be better off flatfooted
Stalking a living like you do
I want the easy chair
and the nights by the TV
Stop the damn wings and let me be

Till then I’ll keep at it
Laughing as I show you up
You wish you had the naked need’
to jump around out here
Cold and wet but not caring for once
about the way you looked
as long as it was you doing it
and not the mask you are becoming

You secretly wish you were Gene Kelly
No secrets here
I wish you were too