November 22, 1963

It was a normal Friday morning,

I woke up at my normal time,
and took my normal route to school.

As I walked to school,
I thought about all that I would be missing.
All of my friends were driving to Dallas,
to watch The President in the parade.

Envy ran deep in my veins,
because I was suffering at school while
they watched in awe
as the First Lady drive by.

I sat in the cafeteria,
along with the other students
whose parents made them stay behind.

Out of the corner of my eye,
I saw my chemistry teacher sprinting to the teacher’s lounge.
And then another teacher,
and then another.

Curiosity got the best of me.
I left the abandoned cafeteria,
and made my way to the teacher’s lounge,
where half of the staff was huddled

around one tiny black and white TV.

I peered over their shoulders,
and Walter Cronkite stared back through the screen.
Why was he on during the day?

There was so much commotion I couldn’t hear him,
but knew something was wrong. Everyone was crying

Uncontrollably. What was happening?

OH MY GOD!!!! Rang out from among the teachers,
and everyone snapped their focus to the screen.

Walter had taken his glasses off,

and his head hung low.

He had just announced
the death of our president. 

Reviews

[Relic]

I was born a year earlier. Some events capture the public's attention and freeze them to the core.

I liked this.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

And still subject of a conspiracy theory today - well penned reminder - anniversary approaching next month. :-)