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.