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Lavender
Lavender
Aug 07, 2024 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

"Little Boy"

Such an innocent name.

We dropped a nine-thousand pound
atomic bomb, equal to twelve to fifteen
thousand tons of TNT onto a populated
city, destroying five square miles,
instantly obliterating

eighty

thousand

human beings...

whose shadows hysterically
held tight to the concrete,
blindly reaching out to reclaim
their missing beating hearts,
their warm blood, their untroubled thoughts
from just a few seconds earlier.

And three days later,

we did it all again.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: Hiroshima, August 6, 1945 -

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United States

Favorite Poets: I tend to read Ted Kooser, Jim Harrison, Billy Collins, Paul Simon, Robert Frost. I like minimalist poetry, and poems reflecting on nature and Mother Earth.

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Comments

Geezer

Geezer

11 months ago

The raw truth...

is that when we are convinced that we are behaving in a "Christian" manner, with "God" on our side, we will act as fanatical
as any other so-called "animal" and dirty savage. We are desperate to make the whole world believe as we do, and...
well, you get the picture. I remember what it was like growing up with bomb drills and us hiding under our desks, if we saw a bright flash from Schenectady and the G.E. plant, "Don't look, hide under your desk." Now days, we know enough not to bother, if you see that flash, your ass is toast! I see this piece as being a special part of our history; the feeling that somehow, we are responsible, just by being American. Cheers ~ Geez.
.

Lavender

Lavender

11 months ago

Hello, Geezer,

I wrote this last fall and thought I'd post it during the three day anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There is an organization called "Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace" which honors victims, and also calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons, and weapons of mass destruction. This poem is kinda in the same spirit. A raw look at ourselves and what we are capable of. The "we" does include Americans, but overall, humans as a whole since the creation of such devastation is worldwide.
Thank you, as always, for reading and sharing your thoughts!
L

Geezer

Geezer

11 months ago

I just realized...

that perhaps I did not make it clear enough, that despite the sad and tragic note of this piece, I enjoyed reading it. You have a way of drawing the reader in. ~ Geez.
.

Rula

Rula

11 months ago

Dear friend

A timely writing indeed. I thought though it always fits. Pretty much what goes on in Gaza Stripe ror 300 days now.
I wish I can say that I enjoyed the read, but of course it hits a cord.
Thank you for sharing.

Lavender

Lavender

11 months ago

Hello, Rula,

Yes, you are right. Somehow, sadly, it always fits. My thoughts are with those in Gaza.
Thank you,
Lx

Leslie

Leslie

11 months ago

L

Such a waste. A fine poem and are we not looking it in the face. There's no way out of here! Someone pleases show me a painless exit.

Lavender

Lavender

11 months ago

Hello, Leslie,

As I mentioned to Geezer, there is an organization (among many) that reflects and remembers Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while spreading hope through activism to get rid of the nukes around the world. Gives me cold chills to think about what we are capable of... still, after seeing such horrific results.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. I always appreciate your time!
L

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

11 months ago

Dear Lavender,

I cannot begin to tell you how this poem makes me feel...to say that I have been gut-kicked does not go far enough... an excellent piece, to be sure!

*respects, Cat & eddy styx