Because when a barrel bomb falls
it makes the air whistle
a moment
a moan
before it erases
buildings and bones
and that horrible hum
before it hits
made the older girl cry at first
and then scream
each time
until now
she hardly speaks
at all
so with their younger one
who is only two
they have taught her
that the whine
of the rusty drum
diving down towards them
is a happy sound
like an ice cream truck
so while the older one
stares at the smoke
in the distance
the parents force themselves
to laugh and dance
each time
a crater is made in the streets
where children play
as the little one
claps her hands
with joy.