Poem: Tragedy

by Jada Chambers

Too young to know better, too old to not know enough

Staying in the village was a very parlous decision 

But life in the shelter was just as rough

We were heaped in the auditorium of a school, and the dome was out of sight

My mother warned me not to leave the compound 

But I couldn’t contain my excitement that night

I drew seven different landforms that the dome may create once its done

Then I figured that witnessing earth’s most spectacular phenomenon with my own eyes will be much more fun.

Convinced that my rendezvous would only take one second, I waited until my mother was asleep

Guilt was making its way into my conscience, but my excitement had already run too deep

I arrived at my home to get a better view but the dome seemed to not have enjoyed my stay

As within minutes of my arrival, it began to pour heaps of molten rocks my way

I must have found it satisfying because all I did was stare

As the crater’s darkened puffs of doom warned me that my time of departure was near

When sensibility struck I dashed from the porch to close the windows in the back

When I heard a bellied-scream lash out like a heart attack

I saw the likeness of a woman sprawled helplessly on the porch floor

I froze in horror as she was just inches away from the quiet thief’s door

Her lungs exchanged oxygen for ashes and her chest heaved aggressively

My mother risked her life to save mine, now she’s dead because of me.