Lyric

I kept it folded

Under my ribs

A small hard thing

No one would lift

I knew the weight

I knew the place

It stayed in my hand

Without a name

I almost gave it

I almost tried

But every door

Was turned aside

I had proof

But nowhere to give it

No open hand

No place to leave it

I held the truth

Until it went quiet

Still in my chest

Still unreceived

I kept the paper

Inside my coat

The words stayed warm

But never spoke

Time made it thinner

But not untrue

I carried less

Than I carried through

No one was waiting

Across the room

No careful question

Made space for proof

I had proof

But nowhere to give it

No open hand

No place to leave it

What no one received

Still belonged to me

It did not vanish

Just learned to sleep

Unheld is not empty

Unseen is not gone

A thing can be real

With no one looking on

I had proof

But nowhere to give it

No open hand

No place to leave it

I held the truth

Until it turned still

Not to accuse

But to know what was real