Sixteen children watched
as I played a video of unimaginable horror.
The planet misbehaving
water turning into tumbling concrete
boats heaved up mountainsides
helplessness too small a word.

It is important
to bring the world into the classroom
and I put my misgivings aside
trusting the children to understand.

They had seen the images already,
could say 'Tsunami',
didn't laugh, though the scene was ridiculous.
I was proud of them.
Perhaps we will write to Japanese children
and wish them well.

Ten minutes later,
Harvey pushed Aaron off his chair
and all hell broke loose.