Category: poem

My baby came home from school today
Crying, afraid. 
There had been gunshots, and lockdown
Not a practice but for real.

My baby came home from school today
But his best friend didn’t.
He went to the hospital in an ambulance that didn’t scream,
Without the lights running at all.

My baby came home from school today
And now all I want
Is to hold him, hug him, let him cry in my lap
So he doesn’t see my tears and terror
Because too soon, I’ll have to send him back.

This isn’t what the ending ought to be,
So I’m going
to write a better one, for every other 
Teacher, parent, and child.

My baby came home from school today
Waving his test in hand.
That A meant ice cream
Cool and sticky as it melted and ran
Down a smiling face.
Not a tear in sight as I kissed the top of his head
And ruffled his best friend’s hair.

My baby came home from school today,
And so did everyone else’s.

–M. E. Garber