It was afternoon -
burnished light of day
the sun glared, exacerbating
her eyes, already so tired
so exhausted that irritation
came as a defense, to cocoon
Boiling hot
but birds still sounding,
though, as they, too,
were angered. dual chirps,
a scrape, one lurched
down, above her head.
Her nerves, brittle,
shook, but she did not blink
but she tasted blaze of fever
Her feet remained in place,
barnacles attached
to some sinking ship
She swallowed finally,
mouth dry
tongue rough
thoughts not quite as fixed as body.
Steady, her mind reminded,
watching
waiting
The authority,
austere,
commanding,
of logic and survival
prevailing.
A cloud rested,
blocking the bright
and her hard as flint
involuntarily \
relented.
She felt it in her toes,
their relent
The blur
of his face
came into focus
and when his eyes
flickered,
she saw her chance
She spat
drenched
him
with
her
hate.
