Ever Since

Poem written by Ellen Steinbaum, used with permission from the author

now
in the fragile time
between the thunder claps
in the time after
the sky split open
and solidness
dissolved

the fire
continues
to leave no one
unscorched
shelter collapses
again and again
around us
the acrid dust
preserves us
perfect as Pompeii

gentle with each other
liable to break
we must sort through
what is left to us
sift the rubble
for what
we have lost