as children we played
cowboys and indians

sneak attacks
and cavalry

bullet wounds
and laughter-

we died and
came back to life.

Now, older, I immerse
myself in books.

You became lodged
in the past
and walk the streets
without fear in the world.

playing cowboys and indians
as we once did

with strangers
you'd never met

but this time,
there were bullets
but no laughter.

and you died
but did not

come back to life.