center of the universe
an explosion at the end of the street
chased all the strays out of the backyard
of the empty house for sale next door
only half a block away
my windows shook but all remained intact
multiple sirens sounded closer every millisecond
I looked out the bay window but all I saw
was smoke billowing
upward in the once clear blue sky
like a fat charcoal snake twisting & turning vertically
as if commanded by its charmer
what used to be a quiet street
became anything but
curiosity seekers gathering at an alarming rate
to what appeared to be the new
center of the universe
a place becoming more dangerous by the hour
may two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
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