W h y   w e r e   w e   w h i s p e r i n g ?

There was no place 
to hide from him.

---

---

he could hear our breath,
deafening, hurried,
our feet,crushing the ceiling.


We spoke louder, thinking
that perhaps we would frighten him
with our talk
of chemicals, fire, a steel scythe.

And then we began whispering again.
We had frightened ourselves with this talk.
Who were we?