Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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Broken Traffic Light

Broken Traffic Light

Ismini Vasiloglou, 12

wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your mask wear your
I can’t breathe I can’t breathe I can’t breathe I can’t breathe I can’t breathe I can’t
run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster run faster
the fabric hugs my skin as I gasp for breath, my nose clogs with colored cotton fiber
don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop don’t stop
my lungs burn, but I can’t take off my mask; the excessive flooding’s forced us inside
stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe stay safe
the restrictions aren’t nearly harsh enough to help us but I’m suffocating under their hold
stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop