Runaway
Catherine Wald

When her sister was fifteen
she moved into her best friend’s
house.

Stayed two years.
          No one missed her.
          No one wanted her back.

         Neither of her parents
         asked her to come home,
         not even once.

When she returned, no one
gave her a celebratory
steak dinner, ice cream
sundae, high five or
hug.

       Is it any wonder her
       spirit still wanders
       the earth, scarfing
       down

       whatever nourishment
       she can get her hands on,
       always hungry, always
       out of place? 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About the Author: Catherine Wald’s first poem, “Ode to a Hamster,” was written at the age of 10. Her poems have appeared in American Journal of Nursing, Chronogram, Friends Journal, Minerva Rising, J Journal, The Lyric, New York Times, Quarterday Review and Westchester Review; her chapbook, Distant, burned-out stars, was published in 2011 by Finishing Line Press. She is author of The Resilient Writer: Tales of Rejection and Triumph from 23 Top Authors (Persea 2005).

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