the siren sounds
girls who were skipping rope, the melodious thump of a basketball
women's constant chatter
stops.
the wrinkles in the adults' faces deepen
stores are closed, homes quickly boarded up
everyone must make it inside.
a toddler trips on a stone and looks up
with huge unblinking eyes toward the sky
as if in response, the sky emits a low growl
causing the toddler to scurry home.
he enters the house, and just as he closes the door
it comes.
the people wait with bated breath, hoping
everything will not be destroyed by
the dust.