Calm After the Storm

I lie awake
and remember it all—
the anger,
the venom,
the frustration,
the call

To do what I must—
confront one friend
to protect the other.

Save us from
a pain,
a fall,
a scraped knee
outside the walls

In the dirt streets
where dust kicked up—
and I don’t hate you

Not yet—
let us first
seek out reason.

But perhaps soon will come the time
to leave,
to flee,
to seek outside,
to study.

May we find peace,
and until then,
I wait,
I sleep.

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With the release of every chapter of Below the Land, I will be posting a companion poem.  This is the poem related to the Chapter 2.