Imagine
how many directions there are
all alone
on dark nights!
I could have walked away, to the mountains.
Even though there are bounty hunters
with hungry dogs and pointing guns
aren’t there also caves
for hiding?
I could have walked backward along the dark road
instead of forward
who says I have to follow a carriage
when it leaves me behind?
So I stood there, alone in the darkness and silence
imagining
waiting to see what would happen.
He came
the overseer
with his whips and chains
moving swiftly
to catch me
before I could get away
escaping
into the mouths of hidden caves
or hungry dogs.