Catch It Early

12/03/23

“Catch it early, or it might just slip
right through your hands.”

The story of a boy
left alone to mind the time.
Affection took the next train
with love right behind.
The boy went to callin’ names —
“Guilt,” “Anger,” “Denial,” “Depression” —
but each word passed with please.
He sat and counted pebbles
four feet left a trail to the trees.
“Catch it early”
if you wish to release.

The boy left the forest,
a man of entireties.
Found fame in a comedy
of pleasantries.
Tango’d his way ‘round
the globe,
countin’ pebbles of each
and every stone,
but the words kept reelin’
in his mind —
Guilt,” “Anger,” “Denial,” “Depression” —
unveiling his fate, unbeatable,
and so the man sat down
and thought of the boy.
He wondered if he was ever
really lonely, or, if, please —
“catch it early,” if you wish
to release
the lonely, little boy,
asleep,
counting pebbles on the beach.