Another Game of Tag
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Once, my second graders and I were playing tag
on recess, on the newly mowed field,
when suddenly

a hawk

swooped out of nowhere, dove,
snatched up a very surprised squirrel from
the center of the field, and lifted it to a branch
in a nearby tree.

My students and I stood stunned,
eyes wide, mouths unsure whether
to make an “O,” or grimace.

We could see the hawk dipping its beak
into the squirrel–pulling out purple bits and pieces,
and when the recess bell rang
we walked slowly back to class knowing
whatever it was we were about to go learn
would mean little compared to this.

The next day, my students
found the squirrel’s tail at the base of the tree.
We marveled at it. “Can we keep it?” asked one.
“That’s gross,” said another.” I said: “I think
we should leave it where it is.”
But one student stuffed it in his pocket
and said: “I’m taking it home to show my mom.”

We shrugged and nodded, and went to go start
another game of tag.