Elizabeth and Joshua

Hanging from the trees above,

Moss swept

Against their backs

As the boat drifted slowly over

The serene midnight,

Vivid spheres of light in the sky

Visible through the canopy above them.

Lost echoes

Of voices of men,

Yelps of hounds,

Lashed at their minds

Like a whip viciously ripping

Naked flesh.

Reaching out

To calm the whimpering toddler

She wrapped their only blanket

About his little shoulders,

Cuddling him.

Exhausted,

His eyelids relaxed, fell and opened,

Fell and opened.

His little body jerked

With yet another whimper.

Maybe they’re gone, she reassured herself.

Please be gone….