There was this disease
out gobbling up the children.
It grabbed us
around the chest,
beat at our limbs
with mangling wings

so bad
our parents
tried to snatch us back
as if we were in the path of buses

which meant
no swimming pools
no merry-go-round in Hunting Park,
or play with other children
who might be carriers

only the tin tub
on the front porch
echoing with water.