Kaleidoscope by June Stepansky - HTML preview

 AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

I walk gingerly upon the earth

where once my steps were firm.

I notice overpasses,

underpasses, skylights,

that once barely impinged

upon my consciousness.

I start at every sound,

my pounding heart

shifting me into a mode

of flight or fight.

I have always known

I lived in earthquake country,

but I knew it with my head,

not my heart.