Suddenly at Night by Hiram Larew

In the event of an emergency

Pace yourself.

Stand up and

Follow your instincts.

Also inhale deeply and be aware of your surroundings.

Behave calmly. Do not panic.

It may help to press your stomach.

If you are able and need to

Grip the handle behind you.

And remove obstructions.

Kick clutter out of the way.

If you see sparks of any kind, leave everything behind.

Become especially concerned if the alarm is constant

Do not waste time deciding what to take.

You will assess losses later.

As you exit place a hand over your mouth.

And protect vitals by bending over.

Take full precautions.

Once you are safely somewhere

Tell others

As promptly as you can.

Audio narration of Suddenly at Night read by the poet: https://soundcloud.com/hiram-larew/suddenly-at-night-an-audio-poem

Hiram Larew's most recent collection, Patchy Ways, was published in 2023 by CyberWit Press.  As founder of Poetry X Hunger, he's bringing a world of poets to the anti-hunger cause.  www.HiramLarewPoetry and www.PoetryXHunger.com