Do you? Still in the green dark, smokey air fills my lungs. Laughing in the quiet of the crackling sky. The ground shakes, hugging it until my vertigo resides. Yes.

Small regular gulps of air standing on the run, zig zag, passed the copse of grass diving into the pond beyond. Much cooler the broiling air above. I take my time on the bottom finding soft mud beneath my boots, slippery in wait.

Sitting upright well into the night, not quite dawn, soon. The pillow just as bark to my back. Thankful that this time the dream ended abruptly.

Too many times I had wandered the desert night in cold crimson rain awaiting morning flower. Cactus heart and rattle snake mind long ago forgotten the world’s promise of false love and camaraderie.

Knives, shields and hollering shouts of do this, get over there and find out where that is coming from. Too bold and stupid to stop the madness, I shatter the dark with a massive burst of heavenly light.

Flight, fear and anger at the power of life and the shouts of angels against the wiles of night’s resolve. Gone for another morrow. What hope remains shines upon the faces of lost men.

A glow, too soon to know what comes at us from the edge of the horizon’s grasp. Whatever it is moving too fast for eyes to follow. We don’t wait around, knowing better odds in the forest.

Thankful for the pain in my shoulder and side, certain I’m alive and eager to find some healing before next sundown. What food we have is eaten as we silently make measure of each heart.

All too sudden the ocean crashes about our feet, no ships in sight, only drifting hulls and spirits gone. Upon forever we pray hoping that this is the moment when we expected the return. Swimming to the breakers we tie ourself to reef awaiting the even tide.