My only weakness is — well nevermind, nevermind. (New Wave cento)

The traffic is waiting. Outside,
we’re walking through town. We walk like
a ghost, keep on shuf-shuf-shuffling to this ghost
dance beat. Up, down, turn around. Please.
Don’t let me hit the ground. Oh, I see the light,
and the heated couplings in the sun.
Or is that untrue? Somewhere on my body,
if you look real close, you’ll find you.
When you were mine, you were
all I ever wanted to do. Now I would do
most anything to get you back by my side.
If you were a pill, I could feel — at the time,
there was no way of knowing; a heartless hand
on my shoulder. A push and it’s over,
sooner or later. Two dozen other
dirty lovers, must be a sucker for it. And once
we start, the meter clicks. I’ve seen
all my dreams come tumblin’ down.
I can’t be happy without you. I try to laugh
about it, hiding the tears, love.
I don’t like to see so much pain. Black air
and seven seas all rotten through. Why
are you frightened? Can’t you see
that it’s you? I know; the joke’s
the same. Tonight, I think I’ll walk alone.
I’m kissing you goodbye. We have no past.
We won’t reach back, thinking
nothing’s wrong. Like the moon
and the morning star, you’re gone.

—

This cento (starting with the title) was made using lyrics from: The Smiths — “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” The Psychedelic Furs — “Pretty in Pink,” Iggy Pop — “Nightclubbing,” The Jam — “Ghosts,” New Order — “Temptation,” Peter Gabriel — “In Your Eyes,” Gang of Four — “Damaged Goods,” X — “You,” Prince — “When You Were Mine,” The Cure — “Boys Don’t Cry,” The Replacements — “Valentine,” Roxy Music — “More Than This,” The (English) Beat — “Save it for Later,” Cyndi Lauper — “All Through the Night,” The Clash — “Train in Vain,” and The Cars — “Drive.”