I.

Sitting on a swing set alone is not fun.

Especially when sad

Because sadness fills me like rain floods streets during a hurricane 

No matter how many sandbags I put down, the water still seeps in

Not stopping

Sirens screaming

My heart is pounding like broken tree branches hitting boarded up windows

 and I just want it to stop

I want to stay in the closet and hide under a mattress

Have my mama hold me in her arms 

And say “baby, hurricanes are only temporary”

But mama this one has been here since August

And there’s work to be done.

There’s research papers and lab reports and calculus to do

So I’m just gonna sit here for a minute

Swinging back and forth.

II.

Sitting on a swing set is fun.

Especially with friends.

        The hurricane has passed

        The sandbags are put away

 The sun is warm and inviting

The research papers, lab reports and calculus are forgotten

These days the hurricanes have turned into passing rainclouds

But I have my rain boots 

So I’m just gonna sit here for a minute.

Swinging 

Back 

& 

              Forth.

─Tropical Depression