Mark States

NEVER TOUCHING DOWN (the Throwback Medley)

“Goin' round and round, never touchin' down”

The Cars “I’m not the One” © 1981, Ric Ocasek

Searching from face to face

looking for the one in whom I can place

my trust,

looking at the suspicious faces.

Door to door

I am no salesman

door to door

seeing not what I am looking for

looking at all the skeptical faces.

Skipping from face to face

too much attitude to allow me to look long.

Moving from face to face

‘cuz when you’re not welcome it is not the place

to stay.

Search the world, search the home,

like a bee for the honeycomb

only a bear has parked itself beside the tree

and won’t let it go.

Won’t let it go.

Face to face, tree to tree,

looking for the one to whom I run,

looking for the one

who will let me be me

Looking at all the shifting faces.

TAKE THE STEPS

Looking back through the other end of Time’s telescope – my oh my

how small the eye

gazing at here and now.

I’m not the one to tell you how to get here.

Only you can take the steps

left foot right foot

hit a wall and take a longer way around

moving from face to face

and maybe you see a smile and decide to linger a while

just for the feeling good about yourself

for a minute or a month

that can be a good thing

though the journey is longer than some of the faces

glaring at you

a walk through a hall of shame they built for you

out of lies.

You have always been you.