by Mike Bayles

Created on: October 31, 2009   Last Updated: November 01, 2009

The Burning School


The grade school's aglow,
casting light into darkness.
Tongues of fire curl out every window,
and push through the roof,
and fire consumes the life it once held.

Adults and children stand in awe,
each with their own observation.
The adults say, "At least no one was hurt,"
while children stand in dazed wonder.

Walls, once sturdy, collapse like cards
left on their own, and thuds to earth,
while a neighborhood waits in shadows.

The building gives up years of memories,
only to scatter children from its grounds
like scattered ash offerings, Heaven-bound.

For a moment, all forget
the sun will rise and bring another day.
It will shine on a smoldering apparition
where children once gathered and stayed.

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