Evacuees

            (for Ukraine)

The load could not be heavier,
I thought.
Trudging through deep wet mud,
I thought
The journey would be shorter.

But now our boy cannot walk one more step;
I must drop one bag and pick him up

I cannot remember
What was in that bag.
I cannot remember
What day we started,
How long we’ve walked.

I cannot remember
How far it is to the border, or
When we last ate a meal,
Or drank clear water.

I thought
The journey would be shorter.

.

.

Alice Barrett is author of “The Bridge,” published by Human Error Press. She taught ESOL to adults in Holyoke. She’s married to a great actor.