That Would Never Happen to Us

Turned off the news two seconds too late 

Wishing she’d lowered her baby’s bedtime 

So he didn’t have to see 

The nightly casualties.

“That would never happen to us,”

She quickly assured him 

While hoping the 1 percent doubt in her voice 

Wasn’t detectable.

He nodded his head then turned back 

To his potato chips and Minecraft 

Setting fire to a village 

Full of animated faces.

His mother gave him 10 more minutes 

So she had time to second-guess herself 

And convince her heart 

It remained in sync with her brain. 

“That would never happen to us,”

“You have nothing to be afraid of”

Although she wondered if those on the outskirts of war 

Could so easily promise the same.