missed beat
we have been so restrained
so quiet and solitary
conscientious and clean
that walking into the high school
with open faces feels like a dare
like living wild
and when the band begins bouncing to the beat
striking their drums and marimbas
with the pent-up energy we’ve all kept tamped down
and – even crazier – we all start emptying our lungs
with long loud indoor cheers
for everything –
the proficient kids
our survival
the back-tingling joy of having hope for a moment
the crash of noise we can finally sink our fear inside
we sense we’ve arrived
at a new kind of fearlessness
for all these reasons
we salute you, Warriors –
you’ve put a beat
back in our chests
