Leather Jacket Nerves
by Michael Doyle

There I was bleeding on the inside
Hidden behind the tall wall
That bears the scars of my pride
A worn mask with a hidden call

Not quite worn as a poker face
Drifting back in my perilous daze
We would toughen up and brace
Playing off each other to amaze

Lavish and unforgiving as we will
Quietly dying inside, to God we'd pray
While our leather jacket nerves of steel
Were worn to as if heroes of the day

Some of us barely out of childhood
We pretend to be six string iron men
Playing it fast and slaying good
Every note missed was its brutal sin

Sometimes we'd dare to smile a little
When we got past the envy of chains
That part played solo right past the middle
Went to show it wasn't all in vain

While the lyrics sang past bloody fingers
Written in bleak moments of clouds held back
Every memory blocked as sorrow lingers
Even the smiles were sworn to be painted black

Remembering back, I still don't know what for
We thought we would conquer music's last frontier
Knocked up beats that slammed down the door
As my eyes, and yours, filled with hidden tears

(c) April 3, 2023  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved