I tried to hold hands with a boy who had his tied behind his back.
I tried to loosen the knots but they had been tied too tight.
When I tried to cut him loose,
he told me to first teach him how to walk on his hands.

I tried to hug a girl who lived at the bottom of a well.
I pressed my stomach to the stones and leaned in with my arms outstretched.
I straightened up and told her I'd find a ladder.
She told me to braid her hair before I left.

I  tired to tell a deaf man a sad story. 
The story was new, but he looked as though I were reading him an old fairy tale.
When I walked towards the door to leave,
he told me to bring him his record player.