I got to PolySci
a little too high
dark glasses over eyes
even though eye drops
were applied
I tried to reach out
find a friend, maybe two
but nothing came
who knew that the
"You'll make friends quickly" Dan
would fail so miserably
now it's "back of the bus music up"
Dan
who plays guitar four hours a day
and doesn't even care where his phone
is because no one here
will text me
anyway

Don't even bother
You can't save me
You can't even save yourself
Where are you?
I need your help
They are grabbing ahold of me
And they won't let go

You can't hear my screams
My cries for help
Where are you?
I need you
They are dragging me down

I fear what's going on in my mind
What terrible thinks I conjure up
The demons must be proud
For I have fallen
Right Into their hands

Where were you?
I really needed you
But now it's too late
I've already fallen
So save yourself
Before it's too late

You and I were
explorers of the first degree-
I was the leader but it was never as
fun without you, you know-
you were essential too.

We dammed streams and
built castles, drew maps and
hid in ferns
taller than our heads.

I named our places but
only for you (we spoke in
code; spies and pirates,
explorers of the first degree).

We had Greendip,
The Bracken Bubble,
Glory Glee with the ash tree
(your branch, and my branch,
and the Nasty Nipping Nettle Nasties
that we drew red – danger – on the map.)

We slid down hills on plastic
bags and ran up them with
matching hair tangling in
the wind and
I was the leader,
but you were my crew.

Your hair still matches mine
and although we no longer draw
maps on paper we are drawing one
every day (and when I see any
Nasty Nipping Nettle Nasties,
I mark them in red for you,
and you do the same for me).

I am no longer the leader (we’re
equals now, matching pioneers,
and I love you).