Shelter Drills

In school, we practiced what to do

In case there was a fire.

We’d quickly exit, silently,

As teachers would require.

 

But there were also shelter drills,

(I’m talking decades back)

Where we would hide in case there was

A nuclear attack.

 

We’d crawl beneath our desks and wait

Until the signal bell

Would chime to let us know

We could come out, since all was well.

 

I don’t know who decided

That this plan made any sense,

For from a bomb, a desk would not

Provide the best defense.

 

Yet nowadays, a drill won’t be

From any H-bomb threat,

But from kids with guns and that’s a fear

We haven’t conquered yet.