he was fearful...

He went missing when he was 9 years old

he retreated into his mind and refused to come out

what would be the point of coming out

only to be told to shut up they're listening to the TV.

In school, he was given lines because he spoke in class

His conversation was within himself and so he was

a law unto himself. He couldn’t open his mouth at home

and to converse in class would lead to more lines.

They called him shy but he wasn’t shy he was frightened.

He went missing when he was 80 years old

surrounded by others in the nursing home

he retreated into his mind and refused to come out

they said he was shy but he wasn’t shy he was fearful…