They - Abby Bogomolny

[Lawrence Robinson]

They

didn’t have time to run
didn’t have time to pray

kiss the baby, open their eyes
see the sky, try to hide
choke on dust, feel
the force, fear the shards
metallic fire, melt
their toes, top of the tent
burning beard
they are them
them are they

no no, no non,  
no sense 
no one

has a mother
or a father, baby boy
a growing daughter
gone are they
across a border
them’s an it, a boiling
puddle, horrid thunder
undefinable

barely a number—

	- Abby Bogomolny