QUOTE : One day the world stopped<br />because of the thing.<br />We knew it was there<br />and knew it was dangerous<br />because, you know,<br />it left bodies in the dirt.<br /><br />We all stayed in –<br />couldn’t touch,<br />shouldn’t meet,<br />mustn’t dance.<br />God forbid<br />we kiss.<br /><br />Eventually, the thing got tired.<br />Besides, it knew it wasn’t welcome,<br />even though, the grass grew better,<br />and the birds worried less,<br />and the air breathed deeper<br />as the humans breathed less.<br /><br />We all stayed in –<br />couldn’t touch,<br />shouldn’t meet,<br />mustn’t dance.<br />God forbid<br />we kiss.<br /><br />I hope we remember<br />what we once did;<br />blocking airways,<br />blocking enemies,<br />blocking friends.<br />Let things mend.<br /><br />One day, the world stopped.<br />Another day, it started again<br />and acted like it had never stopped.<br />It does things like that.<br />I do hope we remember<br />that life is not long<br />and love is not free,<br />unless it is.