Day 1,080

The building collapsed slowly,
floor by damaged floor; then
all at once. Those who were still
living inside, sheltering,
knew it could happen; but where
could they go? Families
with small children. Elders
who couldn’t walk. What else
could they do but go on living
in a building that was doomed,
in a targeted city, in a country
the oppressor was determined
to erase. Still, they went
about their days: ate
what they could, folded
their clothes
and their children’s clothes
at night. Read books. Spoke
with friends. Until
the moment they heard
a thunderous noise, stood up,
looked around, saw out the windows
the floors on top of them falling
before their own floor fell.
Windows blackened by debris
before they could get their children
safely out. Before they were buried alive
under everything they had lived with.