Poetry, Part Twenty

At least one time while I was stationed at Minot, the red lock boxes containing the launch keys and authenticator codes were opened and the launch keys were removed and inserted into the launch switches. Had only two of the fifteen crews merely enabled the "birds" and turned their pairs of launch keys, we would all have experienced nuclear war, first hand.

Sometimes, it's beneficial to be reminded of the past, no matter how long ago the experience may have occurred.

Nearing War

Yes,
even I question why all this is written,
but then in the early darkness of any day
a twisting of wrists...

We have been close.

While you sleep, we could be shaking
a new world awake--
that uncovers countless
without protesting the transition.

Not even will exist an instant
long enough to add reacting thought to realization.
Only blinding terror surging at the tip of burning winds
is recognized
and then forgotten.

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