Sleep but do not rest
Wake unable to breathe
Laugh,
but it cannot ease the fear
That holds on to our hearts
Bodies so
tired from sleeping rough
Night after night in the cold
The mud and the
rain
Soaks into our very bones
Moving always moving
Trying to keep
ahead
Of the coppers and the squatters
Who curse our names
We pray
sometimes
Though it is hard not to think
That our God has forsaken
us
But we have faith
In my pocket I carry
both bible and
poison
By this end purgatory waits
I will not hang – God forgive me.