Daybreak

Couldn’t sleep,

Grabbed my scarf and

Slipped on my shoes,

Not caring about my hat.

Walked out of my hotel room,

Locked the door and

Treaded down the hall to the stairs.

Waved to the night clerk, who nodded back.

I slipped out and around back,

Watching my breath crystallize.

The sun was just over the horizon.

For a second I could almost pretend,

Nothing was wrong.

No one was being killed

For their race or beliefs,

For their looks or words.

I closed my eyes and breathed in.

Reveling in the silence,

Wishing it would stay, and

Never leave me.

The silence was broken

By the hoof-beats of horse-guards.

I remained in the shadows,

Just out of their sight.

They passed, and I returned to my room.

That had been too close.

Too close to getting caught,

Just too close.

But, I guess that’s what I get

For reverie…

I sometimes wonder,

Did I do the right thing?

Of course, I did.

I am not the criminal here.

Yet, I am treated as one.

I wonder if they know they are being hypocrites.