HOME | DD

chaseawaythedarkNuclear Winter
#breakup #explosion #nuclear #nuclearwinter #poison #radiation #winter
Published: 2017-08-06 13:31:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 6181; Favourites: 98; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description There were only a few signs at first:
Rumors on the streets,
sidelong glances and knowing looks,
specific questions and awkward conversations.

Then it became more obvious:
Outright accusations,
those close to me getting ready,
news from (un)verified sources.

The explosion came long after:
It shook the ground as ire spewed from our mouths,
sending people nearby running for cover.
Smoke billowed out from our ears and noses.

Words, like flaming comets raining to the ground,
littered down and burned both of us.
We hissed and seethed like bubbling water, burning anyone
that was unfortunate enough to be close to us.

The radioactivity alone was the silent killer,
the air too toxic to breathe in.
We were immune to the poison, since we were the source,
so we drank it in as it killed our lungs.

The fallout was shocking; nothing was spared.
Everything that remained was reduced to rubble and ashes.
We sat in silence for a while as we took this in.
There was no hope for an "us" anymore.

What came next was a nuclear winter.
Ashes cascaded down, like snow, like tears.
The whole world was nothing but grey and black,
with streamers of red and gold burning brightly.

Dead silent was the volume inside my head.
All I could see was grey and red and gold.
Everything tastes like dust and poison.
What had compelled us to launch this attack?

They said look for life among the dead.
Something good must have come out of the wreckage.
Everything living is twisted and mutated
from the radiation that seeped into this wasteland.

Until we spot a patch of blue among the grey above,
there will be no sunshine left in my head.
Until we find life that's living and whole,
this wasteland will remain a graveyard.
Related content
Comments: 66

saevuswinds In reply to ??? [2017-08-18 13:32:43 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful imagery! Congratulations on the feature

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to saevuswinds [2017-08-18 13:50:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

saevuswinds In reply to chaseawaythedark [2017-08-18 14:20:32 +0000 UTC]

No problem~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Sleyf [2017-08-18 12:00:46 +0000 UTC]


Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful poem!  Be sure to check out the other features sharing the Monthly Round-up!

From the admin of

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to Sleyf [2017-08-18 13:15:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Sleyf In reply to chaseawaythedark [2017-08-18 17:40:00 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MissAddledMiss In reply to ??? [2017-08-08 23:25:54 +0000 UTC]

I think this poem beautifully illustrates the devastating emotional toll of a bad breakup. I particularly like how well you managed to weave the metaphor of a nuclear fallout throughout the piece. It adds a tragic dimension to the piece that I don't see as often in breakup poems. 

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to MissAddledMiss [2017-08-08 23:54:07 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

YaBoiBelowAverage In reply to ??? [2017-08-07 09:05:40 +0000 UTC]

Can't believe a break-up can be this damaging

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to YaBoiBelowAverage [2017-08-07 13:00:54 +0000 UTC]

Since I've never really experienced a breakup, me neither, but I've heard stories about this kind of stuff lol

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

aquagirl7 In reply to ??? [2017-08-07 04:42:47 +0000 UTC]

"sidelong glances and knowing looks,
specific questions and awkward conversations"

That uncomfortable undercurrent of trouble that's easy to spot from the outside but those participating won't acknowledge it for fear that once they do, the reality sinks in. A poem well done!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to aquagirl7 [2017-08-07 12:59:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Sleyf In reply to ??? [2017-08-06 18:25:10 +0000 UTC]

A brilliant read, I do like how you compared the collapse to a nuclear explosion, effecting not just the two involved, but a sphere of widespread damage. The imagery is wonderful, and the progression of the 'events', from the warning signs, to the aftermath and wind-down flowed seamlessly. The length, I think, was just right to carry that off without it being too abrupt and ignoring the effects after the initial impact as it were

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

chaseawaythedark In reply to Sleyf [2017-08-07 00:04:55 +0000 UTC]

Wow, thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Sleyf In reply to chaseawaythedark [2017-08-07 04:57:57 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0


<= Prev |