WAS, WERE - IS, ARE

The sun shone bright,
And the breeze blew light,
Chrysanthemums were in full blossom,
And the weather was just awesome.

The cows were grazing,
Over the grass, moist due to yester’s drizzling,
Young kids played,
And the cherry plants swayed.
A day – so perfect it was,
And the kids – so happy they were.

Seagulls cried at the nearby shore,
But their din was eclipsed, when the skies silently roared,
The black eagles flew above,
So how could someone sight a dove?
The power was unleashed – without any sound,
The cows were slain, as if devoured by a hound,
It was just a tiny atom,
Cinders were all that were left of a beautiful chrysanthemum.

There was nothing left after the quiet storm,
Nippon was burning in a big cauldron,
Their skins peeled and throats dried,
And it was the last time, the dying seagull cried,
It was a fine day, and people were merry,
So what was the cause of all their woes and worry?
An atom, a tiny-miny atom.
The laughter that was, and is never to be again,
A couple of bombs that were, but still are…
Yes, that was and they were,
And this is, and they are…