As if in a dream
They stood still, by rows of yellow buses
not fidgiting, hardly
as the hearse drove past
dark and brooding,
taking their classmate away.
There were a few hands that waved, but there was no running,
and no quiet tears-
they were all cried out, it seemed.
The teachers however, had some in reserve
kleenex they had brought for others
they used themselves
Huddled together under a half mast flagpole-
trying to decide when to take everyone back inside.
No one was in a hurry
As if in a dream