I grew up in the shadow of the bomb

A poem about growing up with the fear of nuclear war

I grew up in the shadow of the bomb
Although I was young, I new it was wrong
But when your neighbor’s job relies on defense
It makes it hard to picket the fence

When the sirens blew
We would crouch down low
We would get under our desks
And wait for the blow

A constant fear
To die in a blast
Huddled under the desk
How long can this last

I grew up in the shadow of the bomb
Although I was young, I new it was wrong
But when your neighbor’s job relies on defense
It makes it hard to picket the fence

I went to the rallies
To stop the war
Didn’t seem to matter
There’s been a dozen more.

We keep getting better
At finding ways to kill
It will soon be robots
Coming over the hill

I grew up in the shadow of the bomb
Although I was young, I new it was wrong
But when your neighbor’s job relies on defense
It makes it hard to picket the fence

I fear for our children
I fear for our souls
How many will end
In a six foot hole

Will we learn from the past
Or are we doomed to fail
The horror of the past
Will soon look pale

I grew up in the shadow of the bomb
Although I was young, I new it was wrong
But when your neighbor’s job relies on defense
It makes it hard to picket the fence