Lauren O'Connell - Less Festive Days

Stuck in Atlanta
For longer than planned
And the speakers push Brenda Lee out
As I'm sojourning dutifully
Cruising the duty-free
For liquor preemptively now

The scenery’s getting me
Flurrying fittingly
And I know I’ll be sick of it soon
Though roads are impassable
Most of my glass is full
As I'm sending photos to you

They'll try to remind you
This is the time you
Should be with the ones that you love
But if I get to wake
Every less festive day
Next to you, I’d call that enough

A lull in the discourse
Peek after the first course
To panicky texts about gifts
What is appropriate?
Are you supposed to get
Something for your therapist?

Don’t misunderstand me
How lovely it can be
I'll see what old friends are up to
Hear about busy lives
On the upper west side
And be glad that mine is with you

I hope you stay busy
In the time that I'm gone
Get yourself something nice
Call up your mom
But I hope you didn’t
Do too much for me
I just wrote you a love song
That expires in a week

They try to remind you
This is the time you
Should be with the ones that you love
But if I get to wake
Every less festive day
Next to you, I’d call that enough