Suddenly Flesh Disappears Poem by Leon Agnew

It is harmless.
It is average.
It is chemistry.
And it is morning.

I take my seat.
He takes his seat.
She takes her seat.
It is done.

We begin.
We work.
We end the day.
The bottle falls.

The irresponsibility.
The foolishness.
The sandal.
Bare feet.

Pain.
Suffering.
All short-lived.
She screams.

I look.
He looks.
We look.
We wonder.

We are afraid.
We all want her.
We all need her.
She is hurt.

We want to help.
But we all rethink.
We sit back down.
And leave her.

She is screaming.
From the back of the class.
But we are listening.
This is learning.

She drops the phial.
She screams.
Suddenly flesh disappears.
Suddenly youth is gone.