Thin Scum Layer by Gom Jabbar

aren’t you worried we’re a
thin scum layer (layer!)
not just us—all the life we’ve ever seen

and yet we’re acting like
the sole purveyor (veyor!)
of meaning, truth, and beauty, we’re so cutely keen

and no-one’s worried we’re a
thin scum layer (layer!)
jitterbugging on a nickel ball hurtling through space

we may be common or
extremely rare (rare?)
are we reaching for the stars or falling flat on our face?

when you take off in an airplane
note how quickly the temperature drops
our comfort zone is just a membrane
you dip a toe outside it, it freezes right off

and when you fret over your boyfriend
and while you plot a better life for your child
our only layer’s getting poisoned
don’t ask the Universe to keep that curry mild

the heat is up!
when we’re done emoting how unfair
the heat is up!
we’ll be baked inside our own eclair

well, I’m worried we’re a
thin scum layer
lindy-hopping on a groove we can’t handle at all

and while we’re puttering
in song and prayer
we fail to change even the few things we control

I’ve been accused of dark & deep despair
that’s just the opposite of what I feel
so when next you take a little breath of air
don’t let that buster grab your wheel

time to take heed of our ghostlike presence
spike the tea with all the right kinds of fear
milk our frailty for its effervescence
and learn to take care of our thin, thin layer

thin. scum. layer.
thin. scum. layer.

let’s get busy on our
thin scum layer (layer!)
we’ll need it with us for however long

this could be our only
soul conveyor (eya!)
‘cause there’ll be no-one left to grieve if we get this one wrong…

layer, layer
pa-da-ba-doo-ba-da-ba-da-pam-paya