how many hotel rooms
must you walk through
on lonely nights

with unknown
painted faces

before you see yourself
for who you are
realize what you’re doing
won’t solve a thing

how many lies
can you tell
before even you
stop believing

how hard
do you want
to make this life
before you let go
and begin to live

how many
sleepless hours
how many
unanswered phone calls
how many
broken promises

how many
how many
how many

before you close your eyes
and finally call it a night?

(D. James)