Emergency

the truck loses the brake
static at the edge of the tank
dragonfly floats stopped in stopped time
children play unsuspecting
and the sun knows nothing
even in the shade there's something wrong
the truck is far away but it comes
the children are close
they don't see that the dragonfly flies insect
then as a missile penetrates the water
someone is waving somewhere
no one knows the pain that will come
the insect comes out of the tank
disappears into thin air
the children scream in despair
the old truck arrives all smoke
these quiet cities always seem
a disaster about to begin.

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L Milton Hankins

Date: 4/25/2022 7:29:00 PM

Frightening images all wrapped up in a metaphor for impending disaster. And the world suddenly changes for everyone and everything remotely involved. Well-written.

Marco Chies
Date: 4/26/2022 6:58:00 AM

It's a perspective that adds multiple angles. The truck rolls down a road, the children are playing without realizing the danger, the dragonfly dives into a water tank, someone notices the impending disaster, then the truck loses its brakes, it causes an accident and a small, peaceful town is convulsed by a tragic event.