“I’m here!”
Door banging, stomping sneakers,
Loud shouts,
Not the Inside Voice.
Be Quiet
T-shirt flung into a dark corner,
Towel airborne, dirty shoes kicked — one here, one there
Soon to be hunted.
Be Still
Water running, splashing waves, air gushing,
Window slamming, then
Silence.
Outside, heads hurting,
Sore throats, raspy coughs, night sweats, lingering fatigue
And yes, you know the drill.
The body count, staggering hospital numbers and confusing directives
And for those of us
Who can still breathe
Be Grateful
“Omarion! Don’t forget to wash behind your ears and lotion them ashy knees!!”