
"Mommy, I'm worried!"
their voices tremble
their world shaken
with the magnitude
of quakes
from another
child's
brokenness.
their eyes as big as dinner plates
a feast for fear.
I pray they cannot see
the cracks of my heart
behind a forced
reassuring
smile
"You are safe.
no one will let that happen"
It's a delicate
white
lie.
They discuss battle plans
little troops
ready to break windows
to help friends
to hide in woods
to run
to the 7-11 down the street
and call 9-1-1.
I want
to
scream
"what world is this?!"
I hug and kiss them
more
and extra tightly
before sending them off
to unknown wars
without armor.
How did No Child Left Behind
allow children to become dead inside?
About the Creator
Ellie Hoovs
Breathing life into the lost and broken. Writes to mend what fire couldn't destroy. Poetry stitched from ashes, longing, and stubborn hope.
My Poetry Collection DEMORTALIZING is out now!!!: https://a.co/d/5fqwmEb
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