Stream of consciousness poem -- part XIX

October 17 – Later in the afternoon

I’m hungry

And I’m hurting

And I’m afraid

And I’m sad

And I’m feeling guilty

About first leaving my son

And my husband

And then about leaving my brother

And my younger sister

And about my older sister

Driving home alone

But right now

I’m mostly just

Hungry

So we

Drive downtown

And talk about

The things we missed –

My birthday

Our anniversary

Five days of my husband’s life

Five days of my son’s life

Five days of my life

So much has changed in

Five days

We decide

That Wendy’s will be fine

So we wait where there is no line

And order whatever

And we sit

And eat

Without

Talking

Until

Sirens scream

And I jump

But this is no emergency

This is a fire engine parade

And my son runs to the window

And giggles

And dances with excitement

And thinks the parade is just for him

And I think maybe

He’s right