running: cycle. karma.

the first to run away
was not me

someone else ran
from me
and when i caught up
i had asked why
said you promised you won’t
for a reply
i got evasive eyes
more lies

so the next time round
i ran
just to see what it was like
to be on the other end

then
someone else came along
this time a Mexican stand-off
neither of us ran
nor took a step forwards
just stood staring
at each other from a distance
(faraway, close enough)

at the same time
someone ran away from me
again

when the stand-off dissolved
into a truce
i set off immediately
caught the runner

cornered like a rat
more promises came my way
false and soon broken as they were
i let go
(what else could i have done?)

after all that
i chose to chase
running after
not away

but it got really tiring
i got tired of running after
you and you and you and you
      and more yet
of you

four years was too long
so i stopped to catch
my breath

but soon i was off again
running running running
this time
away

now
three years later
i think it’s time
i stop

i think
the next time round
i will walk instead