The Departure
Rese Schille
The sand filled our
lungs; breathing was
a luxury none of us had.
Air had become
the great equalizer.
Even the wealthy could not find
an escape from
the ever present storm
stalking our streets and stealing our
children. The dust
was everywhere that
final day when ships
descended upon hidden roads.
Families were
torn apart as people
were chosen randomly to board
the giant vehicles
preparing to venture
into what few stars remained.
As the space ship
shot up into the sky
it was hard to not think of the
stranded people
left behind with dust filled
lungs slowly dying, crying out
wondering when
we would return for them,
to the desert land that had
become our home.