“It was like a war
like a scene that you see in war
the guns
the fire
the noise
it was like bombs
going off simultaneously
at a time when people are having dinner.”
Watching Channel 6,
I jump
at pop-pops of gunshots
from a house in North 15th Street
in Philly’s Tioga Nicetown.
Someone’s inside
intent on
killing police.
Whirling news copters
hundreds of shots
another ambulance
carries off
one of six shot police.
Precious Babies Learning Center
shelters children hunkered down.
Her child escorted out,
a mother reflects:
“I have fear in my heart
because I have children
I see police crouched behind cars
smell of gunpowder
a feeling of euphoria.”