BATTLE CRY


clouds     clouds
the white white sky

bird call
foot fall
the sound of our breath

if only

a thin sheet of ice crosses the pond
fish in the warmest pockets of cold

nettle in the winter
like nettle in the spring
chickweed, rosehips,
wild garlic, dandelion leaves

there's nothing that isn't given

and yet      and yet      and yet-­

the topography changes:
the oil slicked river,
there and there and there and there,
the fires burn

stay with it
stay with it now

self-made soldiers
a child for rent

I said don't look away
I said -

outside this window
hoof beats,
not even the distant hum of the city
a break in the clouds for the afternoon sun

if the wanting of it
just for the joy of it
hope with all you have
barefoot march through the soil
could deliver us
would you?

look both ways
step with me, that's it
hold my hand, together now

if air        were enough
if we were only    
what we were meant to be

don't give up

roads wind past empty houses
stations, shops with shelves brimming
open fields       sheep grazing
cows, horses, plastic bags like kites in the wind
the dark curl of exhaust, and speeding by
a child's face pressed to the glass

cars    tanks    boats    planes
these two feet once for walking

       hope
       hope
       hope

hope        with all you have

---

Rachel Lehrman