Souls have no full stop

He was four running for the ice cream van

He was eight running for the ball on the fields

He was twelve running to make morning registration

He was sixteen running to be with her for as long as possible

He didn't run for twenty

Seventeen saw him stop

This time they ran to gather around him

This time sirens ran to make his heart before it slept

This time papers ran with his name printed

This time tears ran to wash the stains left on the pavement

This time all the ice cream vans ceased

The ball remained still

Mornings stay far away

The girl lays in what was

And years are pleading for the soul they didn't receive

This time we pray he runs somewhere

above us eternally