A Collapse of Umbrellas

Umbrellas across the hallway

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black canopies forced backward

through their own rib cages

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thin metal struts blown through nylon skin

hinges sheared

latches split

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tile ringing with impact

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fabric ripping along its stitched assurances

the air granular

Hard

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frames buckling mid-bloom

handles kicked sideways

Skidding

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lockers shuddering

paper lifting

Falling

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“You don’t even have to close the doors.”

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an open canopy jerks

snaps inside out

locks there

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bones showing

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water entering at velocity

striking

Entering

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backpacks gutted beside them

zippers torn

contents spilled into glare

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fluorescent light holding steady

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policy laminated

mounted near the exit

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This campus remains committed to a safe and nurturing learning environment.

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umbrellas collapsed where they were dropped

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black mouths forced upward

collecting

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metal exposed

joints stripped

architecture failed

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sirens carving the perimeter

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rain continuing

without conscience

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beyond the chain link

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larger umbrellas surge against the fence

bright vinyl

corporate blue

departmental yellow

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their canopies tremble

pressed flat by weather they cannot cross

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handles locked in fists

knuckles whitening

fabric straining toward the wreckage

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another line of umbrellas advances

hard-shell

face shields lowered

batons vertical along the spine

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their ribs intact

their hinges unbroken

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they form a corridor

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rain striking all of them equally

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The M16A1 became the defining rifle for U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

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the smaller umbrellas remain open on the tile

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water rising inside their cavities

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no forecast amended