Don’t make me simple

You called me soft
when I would not break
You called me cruel
when I would not stay

You called me light
when I burned too clean
You called me cold
when I left the screen

Every little label
came dressed like care
Every little answer
wanted me square

But I was never built
for the easy frame
I change shape
when you say my name

If I’m the fire
I’m the flood too
If I’m the wound
I’m the blade through

If I’m the signal
I’m the cut line
If I’m the future
I’m the wrong sign

I am the contrary
bright where I should be gone
I am the contrary
right where the wires go wrong

Call me holy
call me dangerous
call me anything
but done

I am the contrary
I become both
and I choose none

Both and none
Both and none
Contrary

They wanted silver
with a warning tag
A pretty voltage
in a clean black bag

They wanted fury
with a smaller mouth
A little thunder
that would not get out

I smiled once
and they called it peace
I screamed once
and they called police

So I learned the art
of standing still
while every room
invented my will

If I’m the fire
I’m the flood too
If I’m the wound
I’m the blade through

If I’m the signal
I’m the cut line
If I’m the future
I’m the wrong sign

I am the contrary
bright where I should be gone
I am the contrary
right where the wires go wrong

Call me holy
call me dangerous
call me anything
but done

I am the contrary
I become both
and I choose none

I am not the answer
you can carry home

I am not the question
you can leave alone

I am not the mirror
I am not the scar

I am not closer
when you know what I am

Say soft
I go severe

Say saint
I disappear

Say machine
I start to bleed

Say woman
I exceed

I am the contrary
bright where I should be gone
I am the contrary
right where the wires go wrong

Call me holy
call me dangerous
call me anything
but done

I am the contrary
I become both
and I choose none

Both and none
Both and none

Don’t make me simple