The phone buzzed silent Back at my desk Piling the reminders Where did it go? A stack of reasons Only a small portion of the audience Had access to this part of the film A private reservation The negative master I wondered who that character was Who tried things, roles like clothes Each seemed forced and small Writing from the same spot It reported last time Each time, each place Safe Yet a different face Same embalming process With a beaten voice She was suddenly a critic The film in question Drew scathing notices Like talking to walls Faces I never knew Picture on my wall Shedding it on through Picture on my wall The water consumed Picture on my wall Shedding it on through A picture I see them swimming on the lampshade In the drawer and down the hall Where they swam on the wall An outlined trace, a nail False patience All the years torched in weeks As with most things One way of looking at it The counter offer Was a death-blow Degrading with maybe No answer, is an answer Faces I never knew Picture on my wall Shedding it on through Picture on my wall The water consumed Picture on my wall Shedding it on through A picture