Fear Signals

Fear signals, subtle
Noiselessly shared with a nod of our heads
I feel them, you feel them
Eyes fixed on the line where the trees meet the sand
The gnashing of teeth, the screeching of tires
Delusions of wisdom, the shape of your neck
Passing visions of structures now worn down to splinters
Are striking reminders of all we have left
This used to be a place
Where I didn't have to sweat
Where I didn't have to stare
Where I could rest my back on the ground
But now our past mistakes and our brothers
Are strewn across the fields as a warning to the others
These are fear signals
There used to be a time when the daylight wasn't yet our enemy
Revealing hard-earned cover
Inviting the encircling starving unblinking predatory
eyes incessantly scanning for opportunities
I feel them, you feel them
Piercing from just beyond the boundaries of the perimeter shade
We'll live to hide at least one more day
Picking up on fear signals