understatement from the basement

i've been understated,
i've been overrated
more than any Oscar movie

tear me down,
build me up again

i can't keep track
of how many times
i've been forced to step back
to re-asses my life
and who i am

or who i pretend to be, that is

understatement from the basement
who i can't be
overrated, floating in the sea
who i'd like to be

i can't express this feeling
there are no words for it

perhaps i'll be lewis carroll
and make up a word for it

or try on the mask of emily dickonson
and not care that it won't rhyme

they say nothing rhymes with circus.
they're wrong.

they're wrong about everything
and nothing at the same time

they know it all
and they know nothing

who are they,
anyway?

this is going on too long, i still can't find the word

build me up,
push me down

over the edge
my current residence

could you throw me a rope?
it needn't be more than a syllable

understated, overrated
my life
imaginary, full of lies
i've lost track of how many times i've cried

on stilts
six feet under

i'm just glad i'm still breathing