Seven Gone By

He’s been outside

For seven

Seven gone by

He’s been outside

For seven times two

Times three

Plus one

But he’s gone

But he’s gone

But he’s left

But he’s not back

But I can count

I can count

To seven

Little rip rip

Where the water

Drips in

Little sound

Off left

Where his footsteps

Left

Seven gone by

Seven seven seven

Seven gone by

Seven seven

The leaves pebble up
And scratch my back

He heard a sound

And he set out to track

A gun and a whistle

And a black backpack

Seven gone by

Seven six five

Times one

Times two

Times one

Gone by

I couldn’t sleep

And he heard a howl

Tossed his sleeping bag

Against the red door

All zipped up

So you feel safe

One white knife

And you’d

Run run run

Into what

To where

Till when

Till you heard your name

Called out

Again

He’s been gone

And the sun’s not up

Nothing safe by light

But less by dark

Two trees over

A river

A lark

He gave me a treat

And told me to stay

But I’m not a dog

And I’m not okay

And I’m not all right

And I’m not safe

I’m not safe

I’m not safe

I’m not safe

I write my name

Against my skin

The howl howls again

And gets lost

In the wind

I buck my back

To feel the crack

Maybe he ran

Maybe he left

Maybe he’s lost

Maybe he needs me

To find him again

See he was out in the woods

In a pocket

By a tree

Two trees over

Right by me

I found him

And kept him

And told him

To stay

But he ran

But he ran

But he ran

Right away

We camped

And told stories

And I made him

A meal

But I looked away

And he ran

Ran

From me

I’ll find him again

In the dark

In the light

But for now

It’s just sleep

And arrest

In the past

By the

Night