After the Bomb

What do you do with your children, when you know they're going to die in convulsions....

‘Goal!’ he yelled, and laughed up at the sun,

And gambolled on the lawn in his delight:

‘United leads by seventeen to one - ’

His father smiled, but marked the fading light.

The boy went tiger-hunting in the grass,

And called for Gyp, who lay awhile and slept,

‘You lazy dog - come out and join the fun!’

But Gyp, a long slow silent passage kept.

 

Another volley passed between the two

Who laughed, as if the world had time to run,

A hollow ball, filled tight with empty air

That soared and shone, to imitate the sun.

‘If centre-forwards came from outer space

And kicked the Earth - a penalty - to Mars…’

His father sighed, and turned away his face:

‘What man can hope to understand the stars?’

 

Then silent, in the middle of his stride

The man half-turned, and fell, and hit the earth;

Rolled over on his face, and then he cried…

But soundlessly, beside the youngster’s mirth.

‘So now you’ve seen me fall,’ his father said,

‘I’m fallible, like any other man…

All men can make mistakes,’ he bent his head

And gazed in silent wonder at the land.

 

‘I’ve only ever acted out of love!

You must believe…’ he faltered, and was still,

The lad reached out and touched his father’s hand

As silence settled on them, like a chill.

The boy walked on ahead a little way,

To spare the hand that trembled on the gun…

And thunder! And a peaceful summer’s day,

And anguish, and an end to everyone.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[roarke]

HUGE piece. Titanic allegory. Better than Genesis. Pure Art.

Those children, haven't learned yet. Seems the aftermath of the bomb wore off, belief wore off, and they didn't learn the one lesson of "acting out of love".

Beautiful piece.

[Legion]

I'm not sure I quite follow this, but the imagery in it is wonderful.