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Hide and Seek
by Anna Walisser, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

You left me all alone, just like I thought you would
On the swing set in the middle of the park.
How could you not see me there, standing in the sandy ground?
So blatant and obvious just sitting and waiting patiently

My wish is only to be reachable
But my mind is off somewhere; I don’t know how to find it.
I’m a lost soul that’s what they’ve always said.
So let’s play hide and seek instead.

The numbness of the heart, the silence of the mind.
The whispers of the forgotten, forgotten promises, forgotten apologies.
I tried to walk home, after dark; I got lost along the way.
Because you, were the one, the one who was supposed to lead me.

My wish is only to be reachable
But my mind is off somewhere; I don’t know how to find it.
I’m a lost soul that’s what they’ve always said.
So let’s play hide and seek instead.

You called me, from among the trees, along the way.
I continued walking, thinking that you would come down to save me.
Misguided, I stepped onto the road and you yelled for me to turn around.
But actions, speak louder, than words, so I continued stumbling

My wish is only to be reachable
But my mind is off somewhere; I don’t know how to find it.
I’m a lost soul that’s what they’ve always said.
So let’s play hide and seek instead.

If you would have found me, the first time.
On the swing set, in the middle of the park, I would have smiled.
We could have walked hand in hand
Instead of me alone, in the middle of the road.

My wish is only to be reachable
But my mind is off somewhere; I don’t know how to find it.
I’m a lost soul that’s what they’ve always said.
So let’s play hide and seek instead.