As if in a dream

They stood still, by rows of yellow buses
not fidgiting, hardly
as the hearse drove past
dark and brooding,
taking their classmate away.

There were a few hands that waved, but there was no running,
and no quiet tears-
they were all cried out, it seemed.

The teachers however, had some in reserve
kleenex they had brought for others
they used themselves
as they huddled together under a half mast flagpole-
trying to decide when to take everyone back inside.

No one was in a hurry

as if in a dream