sometimes i act tough

or say things that are either unkind or too strong

or just not what i should say

and i know that the shell i have pulled around myself is hard to crack, and most would say hardly worth the effort

and i know that sometimes i am obnoxious and that i laugh too loud

or stare at the ceiling rather than be able to look you in the eye

but the real thing is, the way i can be if i just gave myself a chance

or found the right listening ear

is

i am the soft acoustic song at four am, when you've been up all night and you're still not sure why

i am the last voice you hear before you go to sleep, the one that, finally, says the right thing.