While others survive,

Or die

Across the world,

Deep in the caves,

Or caught on the tundra,

Between the bombs,

Between the tribes,

Caught powerless,

Between the violent dance of differing ideas.

I survived the night, Here at home.

Awake.

Counting my heartbeats,

Loud in the night.

The moon gazed in at my sleeplessness,

Through curtainless windows

Through the bare branches of November.

Worlds apart,

Connected by tears.

Karen Watson