Beneath the pile

fingers offer fingertips for the clawing
out from beneath this pile of battered bodies and broken lips.
no that's not the cue to die. playing dead is not the same
as going quietly. there are forces to be reckoned with.
something is over our heads and watching us.
they all slither and slander because they can.
taking sniper shots from elevated posts
right through the back of our heads.
fingers offer fingertips for the clawing
and now double jointed we bend and bounce back so we make it.
following closely, charlie's ahead in the clearing.
and now the rebels march more carefully with weapons.