Drill It Out

Inspired by the lockdown drill and debrief I had in school today

Cold hands on my shoulder that chilled to the bone

A school hallway, a morning like a dream. A class change.

Look up. Teacher, Miss Winston. 
Calm and clean Miss Winston.

She is the alley cat behind my house

She is the street fight on the corner
between kids who don't know better

She is eyes wide and hair falling out

and staring right past me

She is scared

Hands on my shoulder

Pressure, enough to hurt

but all she does is push me

through her open door

my books hit the floor

More kids are pushed in after me

till the hallway looks empty

the door is closed 

locked

Miss Winston

pushes again

We're under desks

behind chairs

Scissors in our fists and phones

to our ears

"Hey, mama. I love you"

"Hey papa, I love you"

Grandma Grandpa, Uncle Aunt

I love you, I love you, I love you

Miss Winston has no phone

Bang on the door

Bang on the door

She is calm

She is cool

She is a willow tree

Bang on the door

Bang on the door

She is shaking

She is smiling

She is being blown over in a hurricane

Her foundation strong

but will the wind be stronger?

Bang on the door

Bang on the door

She is not crying because she's blinking too much for tears

Bang on the door

It's okay, she says

Its okay

Bang

Her voice cracks as the door does

Bang

The splintering wood sounds like crackling fire

Click.

We will be okay.