a tree shivers shade

to protect the thief, the wolf

from the prying sun

.

it is no coincidence that

the gods of the forest

are the patrons

.

are the patrons of

witches, slaves, outcasts,

are the patrons of outlaws

.

for the earth was a sanctuary

before a mortar-mediated sky

imposed survival on the living

.

before dogma demanded

allegiance for safety;

a time before time

.

a time before parking structures

spewed their corpse breath

on the seething summer asphalt

.

a time before existence was mitigated

by screens, by the false illuminations

that prevent or pacify rest

.

for authentic sleep

would spawn snarling fangs

that respect no border

.

so fear not the wild wood,

the shadow, the other.

fear not the aid of criminals

.

embrace squatted sanctuary

and sip freely from any stream

not yet poisoned

.

be that not a possibility

strike down the polluter

and take his means to drink

.

have you noticed?

we speak our secrets

in the dark

.

have you noticed?

we only really begin

to dream without light

C.M. Wode is an anarchist pursuing anarchy. He can most often be found wandering about occupied Lenapehoking dreaming of a world apart from civilization. Contact him at cmwode — at — riseup — dot — net.