I saw one from afar.
It ran away and I gave chase.
I ran long and hard to capture it.
By the time I’d caught up to it,
It was already in someone else’s hands.
So I moved on to find another.

I saw another one.
The second it saw me it also ran.
It was slow enough for me to get close,
but fast enough to remain ahead.
It was running us both in circles.
I found the chase to be pointless and let it go.

Then another one caught my eye.
But this one just stood still.
I grabbed it, but it wouldn’t move.
I tried pushing it, but it wouldn’t budge.
I talked to it, but it wouldn’t listen.
So I gave up and left it alone.

I was about to call it quits and go home without one.
Then I heard a voice scream, “Wait for me.
I hate it here.
No one chases me. No one wants me.
People ignore me. They feel they don’t need me.
You look like you could use me.
Everyone else seems to be afraid of me.”
So I took it with me
and decided to continue my search for more.

April 23rd, 2004