Speechwriter

there’s a speechwriter

for all my favorite speeches

she’s got a way with words

like you’ve never heard before

when you read something she wrote

into any microphone,

people fall out of their chairs

to the floor

there’s a man who looks

exactly like my father

standing in the back of every room,

nodding along to my finest country cover,

hoping I wouldn’t mind

spending the rest of my life

taking cues

when you think nobody’s listening,

remember the government

thought all I needed was to forgive him

didn’t know I had to keep doing it

there’s a girl I know

who shows up two chords later

she says, “I’ve got all my lines memorized”

I choke up and dig in my toes,

prepare for whatever pitch gets thrown

my way

but she never comes to the plate

she just waits,

picks off the runner at the base

when you think nobody’s listening,

the phone rings and you answer it

that might have to mean all the difference,

even though nothing’s different

there’s a chance I’m wrong

about all I’ve ever wanted

and I sure don’t like my odds

when you tell me I was born a success

how can I convince you

anything I’ve ever felt is worth grieving

when it feels like a luxury

to be feeling anything?

when you think nobody’s listening,

I’m on your side

I know it’s been a year

since you’ve felt important

but you can’t work hard enough to earn that

and neither can I

neither can I

neither can I