I did not see the sky today it does or does not matter why

I sat inside & looked away into the north-facing light of what I can’t won’t shouldn’t say

a girl I know of wants to die I called the school I called her home

her father thanked me & hung up the schoolman said The world is hard harder for girls than it ever was

What a beautiful day Dan texts I know nothing about it I respond

coming up next: The World but first: The Takeaway

the radio in my kitchen keeps itself company muted drilling outside the window

a girl jumped from her grandmother’s roof one block from here & the doorman found her

her parents papered the building with letters asking no one to speak of it

the United States cares about mankind says the Brigadier General in my kitchen

it would have to include hostage negotiation says a voice in my kitchen

says those taking part in the rebellion are called belligerents

says God instructed the man to sell the girls

says get the girls back just get them back just get them back get them back

I sit very still & do nothing say nothing am nothing & it is still too late