I’m Out

“I’m out,”
I say, 
raising my hands 
above the table, 
revealing empty palms. 

If we are playing Uno or Old Maid,
I just won.
If it’s poker, 
you take all the chips.

“You’re out!”
you shout.
Tagging my shoulder blade 
with fingertips. 
Turning to face you, 
breathless from running,
“Where is out?”
I’m looking for the bench, 
the tree, the pit, 
the place where players go, 
who can no longer play. 

“When is my time up?” 
“Can I come out of time out?”
“That depends,”
you say, 
“on how small you can get.”

“I’m out.”
I say, 
holding my hands
above the table,
open palms
backing away. 
I don’t want to play anymore. 

This game is outta control, 
destroying all of us. 
I played it. 
But now I’m out. 
I shout, “Hey!
Remember, I’m out!”
And you tackle my ankles, anyway, 
pinning me in place.

I’m out of the penalty box. 
“I’m out!” 
I kick, I breathe, I see
so much clearer through the glass, 
darkly from the other side,
can you see me? 

I am out, outside, out of touch, out of harm's way, 
outfield, outback, out in the wilderness, 
chilling out, making out, getting outta here,
out of the closet, out of control, 
kicked out, sent out, to outer space, spaced out.
Time out…
Take me out behind the woodshed, take me out dancing, just take me out, 
out of commission, outlier, outsider, out of touch, out to lunch, 
out of the box, out of options, out of the blue, out to sea, out of here, 

I jumped out,
the water is fine.
Come out with me,
I’ll show you where God lives.