• Runner

    Footfalls on an empty road
    Served up one kid a la mode
    All alone running away from home
    Where do you think you’re going?

    He says: I’m going somewhere far away
    Because I just can’t bear to stay
    I’m not quite sure what to say
    How you going to get there?

    He says: I have good running shows
    My trumpet to help me play these blues
    I just can’t stay there and lose
    What would you be losing?

    He says: My world was crumbling apart
    Just like my oh so broken heart
    Words can cut like a broken glass part
    What words are cutting?

    He says: Things I hear everyday
    Insults and mean things I won’t say
    There’s nothing that can take this pain away
    Who’s saying all the mean words?

    He says: Everyone even my mom and dad
    There’s no good friend for me to be had
    So I’m all alone I really am so sad
    That’s why I’m running.

    I watched that kid as he ran on by
    Closed my eyes and began to cry
    Remembering my past, freedom is a lie.
    That’s why I went back

    I ran after that kid
    Told him all that I did
    He stood there looking at me amid
    The tears on both our faces

    I said: Kid believe me I know
    Why you really want to go
    But my life is here to show
    It doesn’t help anybody

    He said: I know but I still can’t go home.
    Can’t go back and be alone
    There’s nothing now that can atone
    For all the pain I’m feeling

    I said: I know things are hard right now
    But kid you really don’t know how
    Much worse things will get if you allow
    Yourself to run away from your problems.

    He looked at me watching my face and then said
    Mister I really don’t know what’s going through my head
    But I really don’t want to end up dead
    I still can’t go home.

    We tried to think of somewhere for him to go
    The process was hard and the ideas came slow
    Until he finally figured out where to be and now I know
    He’s safe living with his Aunt.

    I passed that kid the other day.
    Our first meeting was now two years away
    He’d grown up and stopped to say hey.
    Thanks for your help when I needed it.