Didn't Sleep Much Last Night

I didn't sleep much last night
Trying to line the words up right.
Trying to send you out the door
A little different than you were before.

Some words fall like stone
Some cut like a knife.
Some speakers want an hour of your time
I want a piece of the rest of your life.

I used to deal in facts,
I'd line them up in symmetrical stacks
Cover them over with the roof of proof
And call my building the house of truth.

But then I watched my words
Fly round the room like frightened birds
Out of the windows to the empty skies
The factual birds didn't make you wise.

But now I'm wiser and I'm older
My words perch upon your shoulder
And whisper in your ear that they won't depart
And peck their way inside your heart.

So bring on the laughter and the tears
We'll talk about love, we'll deal with fears.
Bring on the music, bring on the guitar
We'll talk about how things really are.

Martin Collis