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After they came down
the dust was everywhere
eyes ears and mouths
inside and outside
pulverized matter
through every opening
afflicting exposed tissue
—sometimes mechanically:
blocking smaller paths
irritating the flesh
—sometimes chemically:
inducing anomalies
in cells, chromosomes,
genes and their functions
biological changes
subacute to chronic
often unpleasant
in the extreme
—sometimes, in otherwise healthy
adults, terminal
—sometimes, in the young
and unborn, developmental
or transgenerational
to show up later
dangers Washington knew
and lied to us about
the EPA on orders
issued through channels
from the White House
by way of the CEQ
telling us it’s ok
it’s just dust after all
not enough in the air
to cause significant harm
(and as you can see we
aren’t wearing gasmasks)
the risk is minimal
(though of course if you have
pre-existing conditions
you’ll want to take precautions)
so please let’s get back to work
get this mess cleaned up
business back to normal
the exchange going
let’s show them over there
who did this to us
who they’re up against
with our women and men
in uniform after them
in their own lairs
never letting up
until their oil is ours.
for Heidi Dehncke-Fisher
—
From Mr America Drives His Car © Michael Gregory 2013, published by Post-Soviet Depression Press
.
Bikini Atoll, Hydrogen bomb test, early 1950s
Extremely relevant and timely. Thanks for sharing!
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really on target…we’d do it again in a minute…
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a really fine poem, Michael Gregory!
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Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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