Dear Mr. Kim,
Please don't drop
Atom Bombs
on me
I don't follow
the news
closely
But they say
you are
upset
About
something...
You see
I grew up
during the cold war
And the Russians
Supposedly
Wanted to drop
Atom Bombs
on me
I never knew
what we did
to deserve it
But I'm sure
there was
something-
To be very upset
about
It's not so much
for me I plead
But think of all
the trees
and butterflies
and children
and such
Who will be
turned
to glass
and dust
I have been surprised
for a long time
That we
are still alive-
That the Atom Bombs
of the 50's
didn't drop
I remember mom
putting canned goods
and blankets
in the hall closet
So we could survive
in the hallway
(I never figured out
how that was
actually going
to work)
at grade school
they had us file
neatly into the hallway
and crouch in
the corners
I still remember the
look of the
grey tiles - close up
It was cool
and quiet
in the hallway -
A welcome break
and something different
to do
The next year
we were taught to
scramble under
our wooden desks
(the desks still had a hole for
an ink well - the wood stained blue
with ancient use)
The next year
we were told to just
put our heads down
and not to look at
the bright flash
so our eyes wouldn't
melt
The next year
there were no more
drills
I suppose they had
figured out
What we kids
already knew
No amount of hallway
or wooden desk
Would do much
good...
A friend whose family
had more money
built a bomb shelter...
I don''t know
if this affected
my childhood
but
I have always had
an endearing
sense of
fatalism...
So Dear Mr Kim
Please remember
that your friend Dennis
Would be injured too
and basketball
would be shut down-
Lots of people
and their pets
Would be melted into
glass
and dust
And Butterflies
would
cry
Please don't drop
Atom Bombs
on me
I don't follow
the news
closely
But they say
you are
upset
About
something...
You see
I grew up
during the cold war
And the Russians
Supposedly
Wanted to drop
Atom Bombs
on me
I never knew
what we did
to deserve it
But I'm sure
there was
something-
To be very upset
about
It's not so much
for me I plead
But think of all
the trees
and butterflies
and children
and such
Who will be
turned
to glass
and dust
I have been surprised
for a long time
That we
are still alive-
That the Atom Bombs
of the 50's
didn't drop
I remember mom
putting canned goods
and blankets
in the hall closet
So we could survive
in the hallway
(I never figured out
how that was
actually going
to work)
at grade school
they had us file
neatly into the hallway
and crouch in
the corners
I still remember the
look of the
grey tiles - close up
It was cool
and quiet
in the hallway -
A welcome break
and something different
to do
The next year
we were taught to
scramble under
our wooden desks
(the desks still had a hole for
an ink well - the wood stained blue
with ancient use)
The next year
we were told to just
put our heads down
and not to look at
the bright flash
so our eyes wouldn't
melt
The next year
there were no more
drills
I suppose they had
figured out
What we kids
already knew
No amount of hallway
or wooden desk
Would do much
good...
A friend whose family
had more money
built a bomb shelter...
I don''t know
if this affected
my childhood
but
I have always had
an endearing
sense of
fatalism...
So Dear Mr Kim
Please remember
that your friend Dennis
Would be injured too
and basketball
would be shut down-
Lots of people
and their pets
Would be melted into
glass
and dust
And Butterflies
would
cry
I am from the same Cold War time - in Canada, no less. And, I think, I was in Grade 3 or 4 and we had to run home (an adult had to be there) to time us so that the school would know (in the event of a nuclear attack) which children could make it to their house and which children would have to remain in the school. (I never ran so hard in my life.) Over 50 years ago and I think of it still. I think those things do stick with the children that they were done to. (Though I doubt that we will ever know the true impact of it all on us Cold War Kids.)
ReplyDeleteThis is so pure and simple....wonderful!
ReplyDelete