Mushroom Cloud

Posted byChristine BoltonPosted inBlog, HistoryTags:, , , , ,

Mushroom Cloud

An early August morning
A day like any other
beginning for many
ending for thousands
Enola Gay released and
Little Boy was on his descent
Exploding above earth
at eight sixteen am
Burning, killing, obliterating
instantly
His mushroom cloud
rising back towards the sky
Quickly spreading outwards
Continuing his destruction
Warnings, given
Believed, perhaps
Doubted, likely
Heeded, not

 
Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Sarah is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight and has
prompted us with "Mushroom" and encouraged us to
use it however we wish.

This poem is about the dropping of the
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945

Photo courtesy of Live Science

Published by Christine Bolton

I have been writing poetry since I was a child and it has helped in the good times and bad times. I am always looking within to find the answers to life's problems and to write thought-provoking poetry and prose. Thanks for checking it out. Christine

27 thoughts on “Mushroom Cloud”

    2. I had forgotten about that other mushroom (though how could I, when it looms above all our imaginations?). I particularly like the ending, tighter and tighter, and so bleak.

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      1. Thank you Sarah. I just couldn’t get the thought out of my head once it was there. War is so ugly, isn’t it?

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    3. The use of devices of flashback, concrete and abstract imageries connotes and triggers a sense of regret and loss. A deeper reflection into your poem made me realize how well you employed euphemism in expressing the historical damages caused by atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Superb!

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  6. A clever take on the prompt, Christine. It’s devastating and you really hit the heart of it all here:

    “Exploding above earth
    at eight sixteen am
    Burning, killing, obliterating
    instantly
    His mushroom cloud
    rising back towards the sky…”

    All the death and destruction; the aftermath that would linger on to even the unborn.

    Japan was warned beforehand and they did not take heed indeed. You describe the tragedy of the event realistically and solemnly. Very eloquently penned!

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    1. Thank you Lucy. Some years ago I was at the Smithsonian and saw the Enola Gay and it gave me chills. It was as if the energy was still there. I watched a videotape interview of the crew taken much later and they were asked if they would do it again, if asked. There was a resounding “No”. They said they were young men in their 20s following orders in war time. On reflection they saw the travesty. The interview was an eye opener for me. I never forgot it. 😢

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    1. It is still quite chilling to think about it. How interesting that you were close to where that uranium came from.

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  9. A terrifying mushroom-cloud of death, lest we should ever forget. At least since those two bombings humanity has heeded the warning…so far. Well said, Christine – an important poem.

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    1. Thanks so much Ingrid. As you can see your message came through fine. Yes the world realized how dangerous nuclear weapons are and so far, so good
      ☺️🥰

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