"Atomic Pantoum" (Peter Meinke)

April 18, 2008

[photo by Todd Ehlers]

"Atomic Pantoum"

In a chain reaction
the neutrons released
split other nuclei
which release more neutrons

The neutrons released
blow open some others
which release more neutrons
and start this all over

Blow open some others
and choirs will crumble
and start this all over
with eyes burned to ashes

And choirs will crumble
the fish catch on fire
with eyes burned to ashes
in a chain reaction

The fish catch on fire
because the sun’s force
in a chain reaction
has blazed in our minds

Because the sun’s force
with plutonium trigger
has blazed in our minds
we are dying to use it

With plutonium trigger
curled and tightened
we are dying to use it
torching our enemies

Curled and tightened
blind to the end
torching our enemies
we sing to Jesus

Blind to the end
split up like nuclei
we sing to Jesus
in a chain reaction

–Peter Meinke
from Poetry Magazine, Vol. 142 (1983)

Tags: pantoum, peter meinke, poetry, readings