janes@utcsstat.UUCP (R Janes at UTCS) (08/23/84)
Pax Atomica Blue the sky, yellow framing Promethian trees, the leaves applaud small crawlers hide, seeking shadow Midnight hails - the dancers hold The sirens call, seeking shelter Civil defense for an uncivil war Stay indoors: the armchair soldiers watch the news - we're on TV! Nations sowing, horror reaping metal rain, flowers blooming Chrysalides open, cities mating Nuclear dawn on this world past midnight. Red the blood, river of our life Colour of war, our life betrayed. Warm wind; white caps rising - beachhead established, unwatched shores conquering. Blue the night; Crack the sky Tree like clouds; We move no more Stilled shadows dance, earth keeps time Our sins forgotten, the dance goes on. Epilogue: Roaches rejoice, an ancient tongue: "vertical insertion, gotterdamerung" They watch roach TV; put a roach on the moon. A roach Reagan too - but in a zoo. (corruption of nature, of natural images; rape as love. To the sergeant who described an atomic bomb explosion as like a flower. To the people who think of the smell of napalm in the morning)