On 43rd and Killam

At one end of the street, familiar barricade
and yellow tape. Lights louder than sirens.
Warnings to stay away. How far away?
All the students still at the café, busy
at their laptops. Steam hissing from coffee
machines. Assess the hierarchies of danger.
Trees surrender, having thrown up their arms.
Machines assess the hierarchies of danger.
At their laptops, steam hissing from coffee,
all the students still at the café. Busy
warnings to stay away— how far away?
And yellow tape. Lights louder than sirens.
At one end of the street, familiar barricade.