letting the jackals wait

racing hearts pound with a heavy thump
beating, beaten
crimson streams like frightened dreams
they run
coursing through us
franticly through the streets of armageddon
fast feet shuffling
the hungry sound of jackals behind us
waiting to feed

all of this and worse
and it all collapses inward
driving the fear home
shattering hope
like iron hammers through candy glass

the world isn’t ours
but the night’s still young

take this hand
it’s calloused and worn but it’s still warm
the darkness may swallow us
but my grip won’t falter
I carved it out of distant shores
where the shadows never follow
and when the dawn calls to us
we’ll answer with the scent
of the ocean still on our smiles
infinite tides kissing beaches wet
hopeful eyes watching infant suns rise
these weary hands holding yours
I can’t ever imagine death touching this

it’s as if the world was the darkest of roses
but fertile with the grandest of dreams
so that it bloomed with such brilliance
even the stars made a wish

it isn’t over yet
rage and despair will waltz
while we cringe
but there is hope in you
and there is hope in me
so let’s keep the jackals waiting
just a bit longer
while we watch our hearts soar
over an endless sky