Unwrapping

McDonald’s in the morning,

his first in a fourth of his life,

words tumbled out,

between the bites of old comfort.

His last five years in prison,

new place this week, more freedom,

nine months to go, until

college, a new life,

so many unknowns, new fears.

We walked inside the fence,

round and round,

more unwrapping, to the core

of where he wanted to go  —

who he wanted to be.

The Scrabble game brought laughs

and time just to be

himself,

unwrapped,

closer to the peace

he craves.

–Neal Lemery

5/5/2012