The constant sound of keystrokes from a keyboard

Tapping away

As the sirens blare less than a mile away

The city is in chaos but we are urged to stay put

Meanwhile civilians walk down the street full blood and soot

Panic is heavy in the air and fear has taken its toll

Yet its business as usual, or so we are told

As buildings collapse and glass shatters

I wonder how much it really matters

If working to keep the companies going always comes first

We walk for miles exasperated and dying from thirst

Because the transportation system has shut down

And walking is the only way to get out of town

So the ants go marching round and round

Across every major extension bridge in town

Only to return in the morning for work

Still wearing the memory of yesterday on your shirt

Window offices overlook the calamity that waits

Tapping on your keyboard not knowing your fate

And suddenly the power goes out without warning

Another unwanted interruption early in the morning

Do we really have to evacuate?
I’m in the middle of a project that’s already late!

So many drag their feet

Anxious to get back, too many deadlines to meet

But the entire east coast has blacked out

Another 5 miles before I pass out

But not to worry, tomorrow we will be back

And this time the company gave us emergency packs

So now we’re prepared for whatever comes next

Because we all have a “go bag” sitting on our desks

So we continue our work and give it our best

The city that never sleeps, never seeks rest

So we move on to another day eager to meet our objectives

Not realizing how much we have been affected

By yesterday’s event

But it seems that the day just came and went

And we tap on those keys once more

This time distracted by huge roar

Is the building shaking? Did my desk just shift?

Are people running? I’d better get a grip!

Once again colleagues gather at the exit to debate

It’s definitely time to evacuate

But security insists that it’s safer to stay

Is this dejavu or did this just happen the other day?

That rumbling sound is way too near

For us to even consider staying here

So the roar  it is confirmed to be a major explosion underground

Ripping through concrete, pavement, and shooting up into a black cloud

Is it happening again? Are we under attack?

And again the transportation system shuts down and we are trapped!

People walk away with cuts and scrapes

The powerful explosion doesn’t seem to want to dissipate

Instead it grows decorating the sky

Continually rising to a grander high

And again the sirens blare all over the place

This time causing many hearts to race

And why is it that there is no phone service when you need it the most?

I guess that whole network thing is just a joke!

But fear not, the city is under control

The Mayor urges us not to speculate until the truth unfolds

And there was only one casualty this time

Did you know it was a colleague of mine?

So does it really matter if it was one or nine?

Or maybe hundreds next time?

Because guess what? It’s business as usual again

And it all seems to be too close to becoming a trend

As I sit at my keyboard tapping away

Wearing a mask over my face

To filter out the asbestos that according to the news doesn’t exist

The last time I heard that tons of people got sick

And when you step outside of the building, you step into a movie scene

And we live through it without knowing what it truly means

The helicopters hover and the news reporters cover

Yet another event in our grand city streets

And the blue collards hustle and bustle, never missing a beat

And we tap on our keyboards yet another day

And I wonder how many stop…and just pray

Katherine Rodriguez©2007