La Colonia

At sixteen, I tattooed myself with a syringe
The alpha and the omega
I wanted to enter the convent
'Cause if I don’t behave, I’ll be all alone
'Cause if I don’t behave, they’ll send me to the colony

I got flowers coming home
We fool ourselves every time it’s the first
And the one who sends them usually has a heavy heart
And the one who sends them is usually hot and chains us down

Those who never speak
Have breath that smells like communion
And dark old beliefs
'Cause their face is dark
Mom, look how well I do without hands
I meet the sleeping demon
That stirs in my smile

If I drink wine, it’s 'cause I stop a clock
That quickly catches up the next day
Those who drink with me find a welcoming belly
Those who drink with me stare at the ceiling, not at people

Those who never speak
Have saliva thick like ink
And wear dark clothes
'Cause their face is dark
Mom, look how well I do without hands
I meet the sleeping demon
That stirs in my smile

Those who never speak
Have breath that smells like communion
And dark old beliefs
'Cause their face is dark
Mom, look how well I do without hands
I meet the sleeping demon
That stirs in my smile