Leah Mueller

7.4

When the crack appears,
there’s no escape plan.

Those canned goods
you stashed won’t help you now.
No scientific way of measuring,

no chance to prepare. All the drills
were useless. You are either
caught with your hands on the wheel,
steering your out-of-control vehicle

through falling objects, or else
huddling underneath your table,
praying for the tremors to end.

The smug assurance of objects.
The dust of temporary structures
not built to withstand pressure.

You are dead center, you
will be the first to fall. It will
be a long time before the rebuilding.