Skin drenched in sweat,
Heart pounding
Body trembling
Choking tears
Into your lungs

I touch your shoulder
With a shaking hand

Shhhh
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here
You can go back to sleep

But you can not sleep
You were dreaming
But it was not a dream

Shhhh,
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here
You are safe

But you are not safe
There is a boy,
No older than your little brother
His eyes are cold
He has never held a baseball
But he has held a gun
You breathe, calculate
Pull the trigger

Shhh
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here
You are all right

But you are not all right

There is a woman
Pretty like me
Her cries are haunting,
She has never been a wife
But she would have been his
You breathe, calculate
Turn your head

Shhh
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here
It’s over

But it is never over

There is a man,
White hair like your father
He cowers below you in fear
He shakes his head over and over again
But the beating continues
You breathe, calculate
Ask him again

Shhh
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here
You are not alone


But you are alone

There is a comrade
Full of life, like you
He keeps you company
He makes you laugh
But then he crumples
You breathe, calculate
Move forward

Skin drenched in sweat,
Heart pounding
Body trembling
Choking tears
Into your lungs

I touch your shoulder
With a shaking hand
Shhhh
Love, darling, sweetheart
I am here