Courage
Courage
Olivia Roskos
Run. Stop. Cough.
Lungs fill with air, a little farther, another stride, almost there.
Stop. Cough. Sweat.
Behind you, don’t look back, don’t be afraid, forward, eyes ahead. The boulder
Trip. Fall. Yell.
It hears you. Hurry!
Scurry. Duck. Hide
It smells you. Fear!
Shh… quiet.
Beating heart, like a drum.
Can it hear you?
Loud. Growl. Fierce. Big
Wait. Wait. Wait.
It lurks. Quiet!
Sweat pours like raindrops from the sky.
Hand’s shake. Creatures crawl.
It is gone. Move!
Head aches like a shaking earthquake.
Is it safe to look?
Hold back child just one moment more. Please wait.
Look up. Worry lifted.
It has left.
Olivia Roskos
Run. Stop. Cough.
Lungs fill with air, a little farther, another stride, almost there.
Stop. Cough. Sweat.
Behind you, don’t look back, don’t be afraid, forward, eyes ahead. The boulder
Trip. Fall. Yell.
It hears you. Hurry!
Scurry. Duck. Hide
It smells you. Fear!
Shh… quiet.
Beating heart, like a drum.
Can it hear you?
Loud. Growl. Fierce. Big
Wait. Wait. Wait.
It lurks. Quiet!
Sweat pours like raindrops from the sky.
Hand’s shake. Creatures crawl.
It is gone. Move!
Head aches like a shaking earthquake.
Is it safe to look?
Hold back child just one moment more. Please wait.
Look up. Worry lifted.
It has left.