April Fools

Poet Nancy Rafal penned this poem in response to the tragic events that took place during the Boston Marathon on April 15 as well as the recent deaths of three Door County residents: Norb Blei, Keta Steebs, and Lee Traven.

April Fools
If only we could reorder the calendar and slide the days around.

We know “April Fools” means it’s just a joke
Everything will get back to normal like a snow globe’s glitter settling down.

If it had been April first and not Patriots’ Day
that twenty six mile race would not have ended with two big bangs
and we wouldn’t have beheld such a show of arms
April Fools

And our three dear friends: the writer, the columnist, and the gentleman,
would still be here. They’d be at the Cornerstone, hail and hardy,
laughing at the joke as our grief turned to joy
April Fools

But no, these are no cruel April Fool pranks.
This is reality.
Our friends are gone, others dead and maimed in Boston
Our eyes bear witness to a new world, brave or not

Who are the April Fools?