The boy

By Coltrane McGonigle

his steps weary 
a doe whose danger close 
to go left, to go right 
death has made her decision 

the steps he walks refute him 
a lonesome warrior’s journey home 
the pencil leads him not otherwise and the eraser knows its 
task 

the canvas is blank 
but how does one play? 
he goes through ‘enth memories 
to recount the numbers to 10 

for what does he know 
the boy with no name? 
to rhyme, or to write, 
she sees clearly her lesson