Aftertaste – Miss America Smile

played enough games of chance

first your jaw drops and then you shit your pants

holding on to the ceiling when your tomorrows became your yesterdays

your abdomen is a little swollen, a belt of bruises proudly you display

don`t walk away like everything`s fine now

you`ll finally find out just how your crown outshined your reign

we hope you see this through (it`s true)

will time be on your side?

when we know it`s alright

what you don`t know won`t hurt you this time

all the while your smile it shines so bright

activated (fascinated, captivated) by the faded light

another day, another riddle

tip-toe the middle of what you think and what you know

lungs worn away, a dull ache, a sad heart

old scars and track marks of courage overthrown

don`t try to say it isn`t tragic

when your life of pageantry is reduced to dead bouquets

I know that you`ve had enough

obeyed when they betrayed your trust

you never thought that this would last

but you can`t burn those photographs

that have been etched into your mind

you see the slide show all the time

and I know I told you so

I told you so, you know