The Eclipse
There was to be an eclipse,
Though how whoever knew this
Knew this no one knew.
Despite the unlikelihood that
The sun could just disappear
Their teacher seemed certain
It was going to and sure enough
At ten they lined up at the door
Like they were going out for recess.
She reminded them not to
Take their glasses off and look
At the sun or they could
Go blind. It felt strange to be
Outside the school at that hour,
Like there had been a fire or
A shooting, though this was
Before the shootings. They started
Up the hill, wearing the dark
Glasses that had come flattened
In the mail, their hands on one
Another’s shoulders. The hard
Cardboard frames hurt their ears.
The janitors and nurses
And lunch ladies came too, giddy
From the difference in the day,
Wearing the extra glasses
The teacher had ordered.
Only the principal remained
In the school, as if to
Protect it from something
That had gone away
But was coming back.