Vertical Rows

Verse 1

Grey

Clouds over Tokyo

Reading vertical rows of black ink

My pencil lead snaps on a kanji

I pull

I turn

I wait

Train tracks rattle the floorboards

Outside the window

A stray cat sits on a vending machine

I try to remember the past tense

But the verbs

They tangle like loose threads

Chorus

Learning how to speak

Learning how to listen

One word

Another word

Then a sentence

Then a sentence

Slow down the time

Watching the clock climb

One word

Another word

Verse 2

Dust

Floating in the lamp light

Dictionaries piled high like a mountain

I mark the page with a torn receipt

Sticky notes

Everywhere

The fridge

The mirror

The front door

Cold tea in a ceramic cup

The radio is humming low

I say the sounds until they feel real

Heavy books

Soft rain

Long nights

No more mistakes today

Chorus

Learning how to speak

Learning how to listen

One word

Another word

Then a sentence

Then a sentence

Slow down the time

Watching the clock climb

One word

Another word

Bridge

Maybe tomorrow I'll know

Maybe tomorrow it flows

Maybe tomorrow it stays

Don't quit

Don't stop

Keep going

Turning the page again

Focusing on the ink

Letting the rhythm sink

Chorus

Learning how to speak

Learning how to listen

One word

Another word

Then a sentence

Then a sentence

Slow down the time

Watching the clock climb

One word

Another word

Outro

Closed book

Open mind

Quiet room

Midnight

Midnight

Sleep now

Sleep now