The Lion

Megan Snyder-Camp

Since kindergarten

my son's class has practiced

for when a lion

enters the building.

They have a safe wall

they crouch against.

A closet some of the children

fit into.

The lion roams

wild in the hall.

Races up the stairs.

When the lion

is at the door

they are taught

to think of emptiness.

Darkness.

A real lion not

some yellow-furred animal.