I approach the abandoned building
A lasting remnant of what had long stood for excellence
The flag pole outside empty
Nothing waving in the wind
Who decided that a piece of fabric would demonstrate ownership or allegiance
I pull open the door
Mask over my face
Protects both me and the space itself
The familiar smoldering
The crackling of flames
The burning of
Souls
Bodies
Spirits
We have forgotten about these entities
We once held so dear, so protected
Our learning no longer belongs to these structures
It belongs to the Earth
To our spirits
To our collective
The burning doesn’t scare me as it used to
When I held the gasoline can
I no longer fear the smell permeating my nose, my clothes, my being
The memory no longer keeps me awake
Ripping me from my slumber
I rest easy now
Knowing we are no longer tied to these spaces
These places
These structures
lizzie fortin 