just hold this child

originally published: Running On Empty

we sit and huddle we hide and wait
it's cold outside and getting late
we whisper just to know we're here
our sleep is troubled and full of fear

we hold our breath at every sound
we're too too scared to look around
we curse our curses of children dying
and steel our hearts to their mother's crying

and every day that ends like this
we bless in whispers to our children kissed
tomorrow maybe then they'll die
tonight they're here don't let them cry

and sleep just sleep don't think of of food
don't think of pigeon or sparrow stewed
just wait for light, just hold this child
just hold this child, just hold this child