The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 4/26/08

[BlueIris]

"Chernobyl"

Once upon a time,
the word alone was scary.
Now, quainter than this rhyme,
it's the headline of a story

long yellowed in the news.
The streets were hosed in Kiev,
and Poles took more shampoos.
The evacuees were brave.

Under the gay striped awning
of Europe's common market,
half-empty booths were yawning
at the small change in the pocket.

As far away as Rome,
unseen through weeks of sun,
the cloud kept children home.
Milk gurgled down the drain.

In Wales, Spring lambs were painted
blue, not to be eaten
till next spring when...Still tainted,
they'd grown into blue mutton.

Then we had had enough.
Fear's harder to retain
than hope or indifference. Safe
and innocent, the rain

fell all night as we slept,
and the story at last was dead—
all traces of it swept
under the earth's green bed.

—Mary Jo Salter

[RetroLounge]

1. sigh

Then we had had enough.
Fear's harder to retain
than hope or indifference.

RL

[ThomCat]

2. How much harm

how much damage have we done to the world, to the animals that depend upon us, and the ones that wish they were free of us.

More and more, I think humanity is a global infestation. Poets will know it, and say it better than anyone.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear BlueIris...

Wow, how beautiful, and plaintive...

...and the story at last was dead—
all traces of it swept
under the earth's green bed.


Thank you for this...


:cry:

:hug:

[BlueIris]

4. HEY. How great is this? I come home from errands and—COMMENTS.

I love me some comments!

[BlueIris]

5. COMMENTS. nt