And the world doesn't end
They push the button,
Blinking red in their mind's eye,
And brace for the blows to follow,
Crouching into themselves,
Huddling down,
And it comes.
It comes,
And the world doesn't end.
It comes,
And they are okay.
It comes,
And they have not even been knocked off their feet.
It comes,
And the world does not end.
on the fence
we stumble down the hill together
to watch the horses in the pasture
and the sunset behind the trees.
we sit on the fence,
and neither of us have very good balance,
and we nearly fall more than once.
you lie to yourself
and to everyone around you,
and i am so gullible it had wrapped around into paranoia,
but you are hurting
and you are nice,
and maybe you are kind.
and as we sit there
i cannot decide
if i should love you.
*Harper Polan '26 has enjoyed art of all forms from a very young age. They are an editor for Bridgework in addition to being a member of Patriot Players and East's select Chamber and Treble Choirs.