The Building Fell

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The building fell,

12 floors,

fell down,

fell.

No earthquake.

No hurricane.

No tropical storm.

No warning.

No reason.

The residents

came home

slipped between sheets,

slept. Then

the building

fell

just fell,

floors folded

in the dark,

flattened

in thunder and dust

and

silence;

water gushed 

from severed pipes,

power arced and sparked,

mattresses smoldered and smoked,

rescuers swarmed

amid fumes and rubble

with devices and dogs

to listen and sniff

for signs;

families cried,

hoped,

prayed,

waited

for answers.

Ocean surf roared 

broke on shore

disappeared into the sand

the tide rose

and fell

rose

fell.