The Anger Stage

Thomas Quitzau

May 28, 2022

Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas

Tuesday, May 24th, 2022    11:30 am CDT

I am inside, crouching near the front entrance

I can see you coming, dressed in black

I see you are holding a rifle, you are creepy

Why are you here?

Did you read the sign GUN FREE ZONE?

Do you know who is in here?

Do you know what they are doing?

Do you know what you are doing?

Do you know anyone here?

You are a coward.

I order you to STOP, to FREEZE

I yell HANDS IN THE AIR

You ignore me.

“Bang bang bang bang —

You’re dead.”

Thomas Quitzau is a poet and teacher who grew up in the Gulf Coast region and who worked for over 30 years in Houston, Texas. A survivor of Hurricane Harvey, he recently wrote a book entitled Reality Showers, and currently teaches and lives on Long Island, New York with his wife and children.