When Mr. Matt walks down the hallway

Everyone is

Quiet.

When Mr. Matt walks into class

Tuesday morning

Uniform bricks,

Turn to blurred clouds

Of noise.

On Wednesday morning

When Matt walks into class

The world is finally

Quiet.

It’s the first time the world has been quiet

But it is.

On Wednesday morning

Matt says something that makes

The saliva in our mouths

Freeze.

I’ve got a gun

Matt says

And you’ll all be next.

I’ve got a gun,

Y’all better run.

Four words

Four words

But they’re four words I wish I’d never heard.

It’s Thursday morning

And Mr. Matt walks down the hallway

It’s Thursday morning

Everyone is

Quiet.