she said
muscle memory
and I started
paying attention

new cards
new codes
new emergency procedures
lockdown lock in lock out

she wants us to commit it to
muscle memory so we can
react
like
soldiers

trigger finger on the catapult EMS app
reflexively pressing options
active shooter
explosive device
injury

<next screen>
mark yourself as safe
are your eyes on the children
mark them present
mark them absent
<next screen>

muscles remember
when to shelter in place
evacuate
lock and hide
stand and fight
protect your head
read them a story
in a whisper voice

muscle memory
are your eyes on the children
banging on your door?
don’t open it, don’t open it
you know you are not allowed to open it
even if they beg

muscle memory
it is not settling with me
I don’t want my muscles
to remember this

January 6, 2021
the young aides at the capitol
knew what to do
they learned it at school