Loma Prieta

Loma Prieta, dark hill
Shook up the San Andreas to the heart of a little girl
I was the epicenter
There in the door, holding onto my mother
"No, it's not! No, it's not okay!" I told her

We saw a movie that day
On a field trip to the mint that survived the quake
In 1906, when the city burned black
Those images came rushing, like the fires, they came rushing back

It was hot
It was hot
Too hot for October

We lit up the kitchen with candles
My brother and I knew that school would be cancelled
We slept on my parents' room floor
We knew about aftershocks
We braced for more

We felt a lot
We felt a lot older

Loma Prieta, dark hill
Please stay dark, I prayed
Please stay still
I was the epicenter
I was the epicenter
I'm not the epicenter