The Way To Survive..... Poem by RIC BASTASA

the way to survive
is to keep calm, do

not say a word, do not
heave a sigh, do not

worry, do not fret, do
not ask, do not wink,

do not quiver, it is
unnecessary, when you are

noticed you will be shot,
there are so many of them

around you and their arms
are strong and long, and

from a distance you hear
bursts of emotions and guns,

the way to survive, after
that mass killing was simply

to play dead, bury yourself
among the dead piles and bathe


yourself with blood from all
you companions and friends.

(this he did, he played dead
so well, no one noticed that

he is alive, no one hears the
voice of his fears, no one

envies the power of his breathing
no one, no one, kills what one

thinks is dead. No one, No one)