he said, come away with me
and i ran in the opposite direction
no discretion
wind in my face, slowing me down
until i stopped and looked around
questioned my knee-jerk response


i'll never stop running
until someone catches up to me
or until i run into someone

stumble and fall

he said, come away with me
and i stopped to listen
but he offered a noose and i value my neck
hasten, hasten
so i did what i was good at

i ran.