Sheltering in Place

We sit in the dark room

silent and scared

While our teacher stands by

already prepared

We wait for the bad man

to pass us by

But we know if he doesn’t

we’ll all surely die

Don’t move, they tell us

Don’t make a sound

The bad man might hear you

Then he’ll come around

My stomach feels sick

as I’m listening for

the tap-tap of his knuckles

on the classroom door

Someone starts wiggling

My knees start shaking

I’m worried about

the noise they are making

I hear a sound

And I want to run

Is it footsteps out there?

Or the click of a gun?

Rap, rap, rap I hear

and I begin to cry

Because now I’m certain

I’m going to die

My cheeks are wet

My chest feels tight

But then my teacher

turns on the light

It’s over, she says,

a fresh smile on her face

You all did terrific

sheltering in place

They all look relieved

but I don’t understand

I wipe tears from my cheeks

with a trembling hand

Everyone starts talking

but I remain still

I didn’t know

this was only a drill

All day I feel scared

My breathing is ragged

School was hard enough

without this thing added