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

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