She’d hated school from the first day her mother delivered
her into the hands of the teachers.
“Give it a chance,” her father advised. “School will ensure
your future.”
The day the planes came, she’d been on a school- sponsored
trip to the country.
Turned out papa-san was right. School had ensured she had a future.
(Photo: Kimimasa Mayama—EPA, Time-Lightbox)
***
Written for Friday Flash 55,
hosted by the inimitable Mr. KnowItAll.
ugh...thank goodness for trips...but then again to live with everything you had taken from you...how hard that would be...
ReplyDeleteSuch a difficult question. I hope her future was good but sometimes there are harder things than death.
ReplyDeleteA solemn day, a black day in our history ~ Thanks for sharing ~
ReplyDeleteYes, a day to be remembered. Her father was right but, for all the wrong reasons. How sad to have a future and no family left to enjoy it with.
ReplyDeleteHard hitting Patti but, I like its truth.
What a great way to find gratitude!
ReplyDeletethanks.
Hands down most moving 55 of the day!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah Patticake...
ReplyDeleteA moralistic dilemma remembrance!!
Perfectly penned My Friend
Loved your Atomic 55!!!
It's always an honor to have you play, I just LOVE your writing style and point of view!!!
Have a Kick Ass Week-End
This packs a punch, Patti. You've done it again!
ReplyDeleteWell done. Well said. I was born one month and two days later, so my whole life has been lived under the shadow of "The Bomb". That said, there are no people on Earth who can testify to the terror of its use better than the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And yet we, and others, have waved "The Bomb" like a stick, to enforce our will on others.
ReplyDeleteI wish there were no "Bombs" at all. Anywhere. And my heart and prayers go out to those who lived through that terror 67 years ago.
Wow. Fantastic 55!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome 55!
ReplyDeleteYou rock this, Pattiken!
So happy to see you back!
Mine is here
Have you a ROCKING WEEKEND!!!
hugs
shakira
Patti, way to be for posting this moving poem and photo of remembrance of a nightmare event.
ReplyDeleteHope her future was good...but I guess having any kind of future is better than having no future.
ReplyDeleteWe really don't think about the past enough--thanks for bringing up something that should never be forgotten, and making it personal and real.
ReplyDeleteThe atom bombs did have effects the authorities was not fully aware of. And the bombs were catastrophic to the Japanese society and caused terrible human sufferings. But it was war. And I believe the soldiers risking their lives then, not to mention the soldiers being tortured in Japanese prison camps, had quite another view on the use of the bombs, however effect.
ReplyDeleteTrue story? Such a lucky thing to be out from under the blast, but you know she must have lost her mother and father. That's harsh.
ReplyDeleteYes, thanks for bringing this up. It is not that long ago. Hedge is right- great of you to focus on it. k.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is very powerful. Loved your 55.
ReplyDeleteVery moving. You offer so much to think about. How does one deal with being a survivor of such a cataclysmic event? I can't even begin to imagine. Very powerfully expressed.
ReplyDelete