“At Hintok River Camp” (Thailand, October 2020)

The fire flickers in the globes
Set down along our trail.
Without a torch, we walk and trust
Their faint glow will not fail.

Like spiders’ invisible webs,
The patterned way is there,
Past railroads built on backs of those
In darkness and despair.

We grasp onto this shining thread;
We hope to make it through
Until the dim lights fade away
And sunrise breaks anew.