The World Ends

The world doesn’t end when the sun burns out,

or the missiles fly,

or the virus can’t be cured,

not for most of us.

It ends when you answer the door

to find two highway patrol officers

who will not talk to you

until your husband comes.

It ends when you go to the crib

& see he’s not breathing

or feel the babe inside you

no longer kicking,

her heart no longer beating.

It ends

when we cannot find hope,

or see a future,

or any way forward.

The world ends,

but with a comma, not a period.

It waits—it must wait,

who knows how long,

to be reborn.