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The tap on the roof

They say
they tap on the roof.
The sound
that warns
of the
impending doom.

They say
run
with whatever
you have.
We show you
mercy.

They say
this is civilization,
a fair warning
to collect
all that we have
and run to save our lives.

They say
the children
are human shields
placed amid
security threats
that must be bombed.

So in the darkness
as the bombs
drop from the skies,
We wait for the tap.
The children
huddled on my lap.



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