Bullets or bombs (colors and bubbles)

when I close my eyes

I see dark smoke

skeletons of buildings

broken glass

black body bags

even in utter silence

I hear earth shattering blasts

the sounds of normal planes

over the blue Palo Alto sky

give me the chills

they always have

when I try to speak

my words falter

when you see me

in the morning

you don’t have to know

you don’t have to ask

I’ll be sure to wear my mask

I’ll smile at the colorful young children

that don’t know anything (yet)

about the cruelty of this world

I’ll imagine

that life is made up 

of colors and bubbles

fairies and rainbows

I’ll read you about dinosaurs

I’ll sing you a song

I’ll wear a cape with you

I’ll even try the wings on

so we can fly away together

at least for a little while..

by night that world shatters

colors turn to black

sunshine to smoke

two separate realities

two separate lives

when the smoke clears

I’ll look to recognize

I’ll start to realize

the nightmare before my eyes

but I’ll still pretend..to survive

I’ll pretend..to last

how can we mourn

and celebrate

at the same time

bullets or bombs

colors and bubbles