Where Were You?

Where were you when the music stopped
And the last lost leaves blew across the hard cement?
When the carousel’s cheerful song turned to maniacal teases?
Where were you when I waited alone and tired?
I saw the sun trying to shine through the hazy clouds
And looked away, ashamed at its pathetic attempts.
The air turned bitter and cold while I waited and waited and waited.
Tree branches I’d climb on, frosted and slashed through the wind
Sending shards of unforgiving autumn against my face.
Where were you, when the crowd died?
The laughter ceased? I waited at the gate just like you said.
Plastic clowns mocking my genuine fear. Empty swings across the street
Swayed in the meaningless wind. And I waited.
Where were you? Did you forget?
The sun slumped behind the mountains
Shooting unseen colors across the darkened sky.
A streetlight lit my seat on the curb as I shivered in your absence.
A tear froze to a stop on my cheek. A fallen nightmare.
Looking into heaven, I saw the first star and my mother’s car sped towards me.
My harvested tears poured as I reached for her, reaching for you.
She was there.
Where were you?