Untitled Poem

(for you and me)

They come running 
          from the other side of the 
          fence to catch balls 
          that they themselves have 
          they themselves 
          have thrown 

They come running 
          through shopping malls 
          to lower the cost 
          of their monthly premium 
          only to find themselves 
          to find themselves 
          in empty fields far 
          from anywhere 

They come running 
          through the fire 
          of forgotten barbecues 
          through the waters 
          of dried-up 
          swimming pools 
          to empty 
          at last 
          empty 
          the victory 
          of their suitcases
          in a tired fading 
          summer sun 

They come running 
          to greet the mask 
          they once forsook 
          to beat the beast 
          they once abandoned 
          because someone said 
          “it’s time” 
          someone said  
          “the road has ended” 
          and they come running 
          to release at the 
          edge of the canyon 
          at last 
          release 
          the things that 
          running buries its 
          rest inside of 

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