In my sign language class on Wednesday morning,
the teacher asked for a moment of silence.
No one had to ask her why.
After that you could feel the grief in the room
and we talked about the senseless loss of life
and the incompetence of those in power to do anything.
Later, at the end of class one woman told us she had rescued a large turtle
that had escaped from the pond behind her house.
Another shared her story of a turtle laying eggs in her yard!
The next day I spied two little birds that I'd never seen before
flittering about and bickering, right in front of me!
And then they flew off!
Yellow and white and light gray.
These things help heal us and ease the pain,
they bring us back from the edge of despair.
©LaineQuinn 2022