The earth cracked open yesterday,

and swallowed half the city.

I was late for my coffee,

so I didn’t get a good look.

The sky turned red,

but it’s been like that before—

you know, back in August when it rained ash

and the news anchors wore sunglasses.

Some people were running,

but the line at the cafe stayed steady.

The barista still messed up my order.

I wanted almond milk,

but I got oat again.

The ground trembled beneath my feet,

and someone said,

“It’s probably nothing.”

On the way home,

I noticed the neighbor’s house was gone,

just a hole where it stood.

But then again,

they always kept the lawn a little overgrown.

I guess it balances out.

Tomorrow, maybe, I’ll clean the gutters

if the world holds together

long enough to bother.