Poetry: J.H. Johns

Photo by Mukesh Srivastava

HOW TO SURVIVE AN ATOM BOMB ATTACK”
by
J. H. Johns
(Copyright © J. H. Johns 2017)
They drilled us-
in elementary school-
using the alarm bell
as the air-raid siren;
“We’re being attacked!
They’re going to drop
the atomic bomb on us!”
(Why us?
Why a bunch of stupid
4th graders?
Only the Russians knew!)
“We must protect ourselves-
we must survive!”
(For what?
No one thought to ask.)
“So,
if you’re in the hall,
crouch up against a wall;
but,
if you’re in class-
get away from the windows
and get under your desk!”
Ah, yes,
against a wall
or
under your desk
will most definitely
allow you to withstand-
and survive-
the winds,
the heat,
the radiation-
but not,
the absurdities of youth…
END