I am surrounded.

There is nowhere to run,

No place to hide. 

My legs are shaking. 

As if shoved down by a giant hand,

I collapse into a ball. 

Curled tightly on the cold, hard ground, 

My eyes are clenched shut

With head down and hands over my ears. 

I want the beating to cease, 

If only for a moment. 

Blows rain down.

Left.

Then right. 

Pounding like a drum beat, 

It assails me. 

Will it ever stop? 

Oh, for a second of quiet.