Under Attack

• Ayla Freeman, Grade 6
• Poetry
• 2016

Sitting with my friend, on a port, in the harbour
I see a plane’s reflection ripple in the water
Louder and louder, the sound of it rings in my ears
I watch a large grey canister drop from the sky
I think I knew deep inside what was about to happen
Under a gaze, I felt someone pull my hand, a look of desperation in her eyes
A boom hit the water as smoke chokes the sky
The red dirt and old gumtrees I call home is now ash grey
Darwin is under attack
When the chaos died down, the struggle was just beginning
My house and school was simply ash
I’m left scared, cold, homeless, lost and weak
My childhood forgotten
I grew up in an instant, for I’m under attack.