Deep Night

the night sky over mountains
The things that won’t protect us:
Borders, guards, guns
Candles, amulets, rituals, 
Prayers.
God. 
Nothing protects us from what might be or what might come. 
Not fear, not trust, not faith
What are prayers but hope?
God is only now. 
The one breath that takes you to the next breath. 
Your hand on your heart to remind you that you are still breathing. 
Each breath a prayer. Each breath a Hope.
 
Deep restless night brings whispers of trees and owls, 
the quiet movement of earth, 
moving below the constructs of men
Men who hate and control and murder
who suppress, oppress and rape, bodies and planet.
 
My restless breaths of wakefulness pulsing fear, sadness, despair
For bodies and planet
For trees and owls
For self
I breathe out
I reach out
Outside of my body to connect with the night, the waning moon, the turning stars
Each breath a prayer. Each breath a hope.
My hand on my heart to remind me that I am still breathing.
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