Better At Me

I drew her on at seven

with lip and line and blush.

I told her, don't say nothin' -

you're prettier in hush.

she took the stairs before me.

she shook a stranger's hand.

by midnight she was laughin'

at jokes I never planned.

they love her when she's talkin'.

they don't ask where I went.

she's better at me than I am.

she don't flinch and she don't fade.

I only meant to borrow her

for one night -

and now she's stayed.

she answers when they call me.

she signs my name in ink.

she picked the dress I'm wearin'.

she don't ask what I think.

she's got my mother's number.

she's got my side of bed.

I say the things she'd say now

before they're in my head.

they toast her at the table.

they don't count who's absent.

she's better at me than I am.

she don't flinch and she don't fade.

I only meant to borrow her

for one night -

and now she's stayed.

I held my face under the tap.

I scrubbed until it stung.

the color went down easy.

the smile stayed where it hung.

and I looked up and there she was,

still standin' in my place.

I said give me back my mouth -

she just smiled with my face.

she's better at me than I am.

she don't flinch and she don't fade.

I only meant to borrow her

for one night -

and now she's stayed.

and now she's stayed.