Tell a True Story

It is the great imbalance of our time
that some families endure

more loss,
more fear,
by far.

Don't believe what they say:
Viruses are not an equalizer.

Injustice is the largeness of loss measured against the smallness

of words --

The shock of news

buried under the slow accumulation of time.

When asked how her week was going, a teacher said

"It was hard when a student told me
he lost six family members this week."

I had follow-up questions.

(1. Whose week

was this a story about?

2. Was hard

a good descriptor?

3. Define lost, six,

and family members.

What could I do except

accept her story?

It was suspect.

It was true.)

But then the conversation resumed and
I wished we could rewind to six.