The Last Day

© Holly Day

 

 

I hid the baby beneath the floorboards, prayed

for his quiet. I stretched out over the spot, covered his hiding place

with my body, whispered to my son through the rough timbers

don't cry. please don't cry.

 

footsteps rattled past the door, and I covered

my head with a pillow, my body

with a quilt. if anyone looked in through the door or the window

they'd just see a messy room. if they came into the house

they'd see me.

 

night came, and I could smell smoke seep into the house

could hear people running, screaming past the window

gunshots and heavy machinery. I pulled the sleeping baby

out of the hole in the floor, woke him to nurse

prayed for rain.