The roar of the vehicle was not what they expected.

Nor were the grinding noises of engine

Nor were the shrieks of tumbling birds, the

Lights swirling, the temporary kiss of

a swallow upon their sweaty brow, their hands

clutching, but empty air

The ground below was not as hard as they expected

the rubble digging into the cracks of their backsides,

cracks on the walls

sirens wailing, hushed mumbles of an

audience they only wished paid attention

To their body when it was still  moving.

The cold they did not expect

Nor that slice

their ribs, ground in cement

Nor the dull ache that

resounded

in the back

They had expected nothing, to be freed

scampering chaotically

Yet,

they were greeted with the

Back of the car

And the cot of live savers

Coming to “Save”.

the attention, they did not expect

when the only thing they expected

was for their eyes to seal

for their bones to crackle

and to kiss the spirits which fly over the stones.