Bright Red

the sun just spiked its way out of the white sky
 pierced my eyes like a thorn
 it was the hottest summer in 30 years
 since before I was born
 my shoulders turned freckled and brown
 and my favorite pair of shoes
 melted into the ground
 and we drove around with the windows down
 and our bodies drenched in sweat
 that's a year I will never forget
 and I can't remember why
 but I bought a box of dye
 and painted my hair bright red
 I guess that I was just
 papering over the cracks
 in the sidewalks running through my head
 and that was the year I was safe
 from all the lies
 they were new enough not to haunt me yet
 i'm not even sure
 they knew it was me they were hunting for
 but they were just dim enough to forget
 and I can't remember why
 but I bought a box of dye
 and painted my hair bright red
 I guess that I was just
 papering over the cracks
 in the sidewalks running through my head
 and there were still the white stripes of skin
 where we never let the sunshine in
 and they glowed brightly in the dark
 and my red hair looked kind of like a spark
 and then the sky turned a comfortable blue
 it was fall again, summer was through
 and there was just the faded orange of my once-red hair
 and the hint of winter coming into view
 and I can't remember why
 but I bought a box of dye
 and painted my hair bright red
 I guess that I was just
 papering over the cracks
 in the sidewalks running through my head