we gather around our fires
eating, talking, poking sticks at the glowing coals
watching fiery embers float away in the night
drawn by primate memories unrecognized
recorded indelibly by millions upon millions of nights
when the women and young
clustered around small cooking fires
at the back of the cave
men sitting at the entrance
tending a watch fire
telling stories, fingering their weapons
listening to the familiar night sounds
watching for death’s yellow eyes
to suddenly appear in the darkness
the men fall silent
weapons at the ready
as the bright yellow eyes suddenly appear
and move silently nearer
it does not like fire
but hunger can overcome fear
so the men wait
women and children fall silent
for an uncounted time
until the yellow eyes disappear
the small band within the cave moves quietly now
preparing to sleep
a few women move to join the men
as they sit in the night watching the fire and the dark
as we do still
not knowing why
The Ace Hotel Notebook 