refuge in the night

now they had nothing

but a shirt on their backs

their clothes damp and in tatters

shoes long worn away to the soles of their feet...

it was getting dark

and

they walked

along train tracks, eyes down, so that they might not stumble...

the wind biting their bodies and souls

they held hands as they walked,

step after step

they tasted the salt of their tears

washed with the rain on their faces,

lips and tongues thirsting...

Gaidar the joyful one, baba had said at his birth

and

Gaia, his sister,

who embraced the earth,

whom ana had named when she held her infant daughter for the first time...

they now walked to somewhere

just onwards , away from what was...

baba and ana had lain in the water face down...

not moving but for the waves moving them...

and

someone had pulled Gaidar and Gaia out on the sand

and

they clung to each other, not letting go...

they were thirsty, and beyond hunger by then,

Gaidar was numb and now without anger...just numb

and

Gaia was sad , her heart heavy and broken, too heavy to hold

and

they walked, slow, ever onward with the last of their strength,

step after step...

holding...

holding ...

counting their steps

and

the wind was fierce,

tearing into their faces.

their hand locked without feeling...

clouds racing, it was almost full moon...

someone said Christmas

and

somewhere a light

a window,

a door,

which opened slowly and welcomed them in...

sit by the fire, they said

warm yourself, we’ll dry your tears

we’ll wash you and feed you and give you new shoes...

though your walking is done...

you’re home now at last...

you’ve come a long way...

just comfort for you now and light

and

as if from afar they heard singing...

a young voice in the night

carried by the wind of the ages

that told of

a night,

a silent night

holy

and

they saw the angels

and

they clung close to each other

and

they

saw

a

star...

20.12.2015