Chernobyl

To just see the exclusion zone
Pale green pines
The buildings bare
A solitary truck with open doors
And, no human beings there
Chernobyl
In proximity
Heavily radiated
Not the place to ever be
The cost of nuclear energy
The loss of life
Our destiny

Water rivers they still flow
Not much else though as we know
What we feel is adversity
Silence a severity
An acquiescence everywhere
They left this place
In such despair

Disciplined and compliant they
Packed whatever and went away
After it happened what could they do
Conform their wealth lost from view
The trees keep growing
Do the birds sing
Do rats still frequent
The local spring

Are there fish
Are the feral boys
Still being born
With their own sweet joys

The spontaneity of it all
The peace and quiet
Some buildings tall
Rusting looking the worst for wear
Is it that people are never there

The sun still shines
The rain still falls
The light is bright
But nobody calls
Nobody walks there anymore
Nobody visits the general store

It’s kind of dead
Not a place to go
Just send the bots
Let the cameras show
Those of us further down the coast
Away from the radioactive host

That smothers us all
That promises too
Threaten and kill those
Who would do
The impossible
just to come and see
That would be it
For eternity

Has promised rewards
Of the gravest kind
Which clearly
have all been left behind

Are there regrets
Of nuclear power
Of the immense losses
On that fateful hour
When so many witnessed
And many more died
There is never insurance
Against this, denied

Someone may deny this
But really it’s true
If the shit hits the fan
Then the shit will hit you