all the other kids heard about the culvert

and they’re saying there’s something inside.

all the other kids like to black out the culvert

on maps of the town’s west side.

they don’t want to be alone near the culvert

on the nights when it doesn’t rain

and mom’s now coming to fear the culvert

because someone went missing again.

after school when I bike around the culvert

I see movement along the dark.

there’s someone in the creek that surrounds the culvert

and he knows my full name by heart

he says I should go in the culvert

and he watches me with my face

and I think he knows years ago in the culvert

when Mom was busy someplace

I kissed another boy and the culvert

let my tears drip into the flood.

there’s someone in the creek that spans the culvert

and mom will deny he’s her blood.

god if you’re there I’m sorry about the culvert

but I don’t think I ever left and

I should go in the culvert

because maybe I need to stay there and

I should go in the culvert

and

I should go in the culvert.