woman in front of me stumbled
child by my side fell
old man from behind stopped to help us
icy rain soaked us to the bone
we stood and slithered on
mud squelched into our shoes
fog stung our eyes and lungs
day became night creatures
stealthy red-mawed
left woodlands to hunt
our column of dozens nay scores
in flight from the last days of collapsed hopes
evil flayed into visceral swamps
a human river silted and creeping
easy flesh for predators
flash green orbs white teeth
saliva drooled dawdled towards dinner
ruby girl daughtered from strong mothers
saw the tower first
knew at once chance offered solace
she swerved and waved
exhausted spent we followed
through needle-eye door to sanctuary
once inside portal closed stairs rose to rooms
up and up – up and up
safe against dark denizens
hard labour haven hay lined
cossetted a new born bairn
love coaxed back to tribes of Judah, Islam and
those of no religion too
happy to hail humanity and start again
final chance risk all for peace not war
