What Then?

In the ragged brush by a footpath
we heard a big beast breathe.
We stopped. Nothing stirred in the brush.

Now what? hissed a friend. What now?
We wouldn’t run. Why?
We were circumscribed by an island.

Then what? hissed the friend. What then?
We’d walk. We’d work and wait—with weapons—
while that big beast breathed.



.