Gone a While Ago

“Gone a While Ago” by André Partridge
In the manner of “The Orange Chair” by Robert Coleman

In the midst of an early fall morning,
I was arriving to class as usual like any other
Not knowing what to expect from today’s endless possibilities
Like a child looking inside a toy box for the first time.
But suddenly when least suspected it, something strange happened.

I stumble upon a little red leave crawling next to my feet as it tries
Desperately to fly among the autumn wind with the rest of his kin.
At first I thought very little of poor pathetic spec of foliage and try to
Go on my merry way. But something told me to stop. I don’t
Know what stopped me right then and there, but something about
That little red leave struck me as something …special,
Something that is actually worth keeping around.
Is it the small delicate frame?
Is it the overall bright stark coloring?
Or is it something else entirely?

But for whatever rhyme or reason,
Against my own better judgment.
I just had to take this thing home with me
Not to care for it mind you, but to study it.
Like they brilliant and well-trained deceives of Law and Order
I will Analyze it; dissect it, I will even try to interrogate it even,
Just so I can absolute pleasure of understanding, once and for all,
What made me drawn to this…Fascinating thing in the first place?

And after I imprisoned the subject in a special laminated casing
Like the aliens from Men in Black, I began my research.
For the several weeks that followed, I studied and analyzed
The subject carefully and thoroughly, and much like in the manner of
Detectives Mulder and Scully from the X-Files, I’d made sure nothing
Escapes my carful supervision under my under any circumcises.  But as hear
News about my Mother’s plan to making planned trip to go to Kansas City for
The weekend, I had no choice but to leave Subject 101 to his own devices, hopefully
By the time I get back from Kansas City, He will still be here. But by the time I did get
Back from Kansas City, Subject 101 had already made his escape, and to make matters worse,
I think he stole the 20 dollars I had in my wallet as well. So in the end, after all the torment and
Agony that I put this “poor pathetic spec of foliage” through. It is made completely apparent that
I myself is actually the real poor pathetic spec, for only a real poor pathetic spec can actually be
Tricked and fooled by a little red leave. And when the time came that I actually worked up the
Nerve to apologize for my actions…he had already been gone a while ago.