Loving the Bomb

by Ryne Inman

darkness on the horizon
poising the orchestra
tense arms in control

nature and man gasp
in tribute

contrast
the opening applause
dove flying

above the city—      clouds
flee their own wrath

sirens
the wailing day moon
swallowed

children huddle
under brittle desks

•

flash
of the muzzle
no one fires first

a moment reflected
in blindness

God’s image
eradicates
God’s image

spring field
trampled by horses

power
in the streets
lost in smoke

shadows of giants
children see dinosaur

•

aging
always still
the same moon

the face
ever-changing

“control” — be dammed
flooding over
varicose veins

following two roots
same origin

felled tree
drowned
in a pool of blossom

skeletoned courtyard
chalk outlines

•

school’s in session
three R’s
recon, retaliation, retreat

growing      drawing
a pool of sludge

business as usual
R.I.P.
rape, irradiate, pillage

marching through the city
ants

silver city
tarnishing strife
muddy gray

digging deep
to keep going

•

fossil fuels
greasing
the gears of war

power
to make ourselves...      fossils

death—
the city lit by souls
fireflies

domed arena crumbling
ghosts in the shell

through the gaping hole
in the sky scraper
full moon

flash
wave of fire     noise

•

massive bloom
        thin
        stem

Yggdrasil
roots in the wasteland

playing catch
a shadow burned
on the sidewalk

school ruins…
desk heap in the corner

cherry blossoms
ash blows
off the barren tree

never
so long
forever

• • •