Pripyat

And so what
If this is the end
Of our time here,
And in this place?
What if the door
Remains unlocked,
But no one
Will come inside?

What if the swing
Will not be swung?
The book will
Take a bookmark,
But the place
Will never be come back to?
The calendar date circled
But the occasion never come?

And what of all the toys,
And bicycles,
And skates and dolls
Left haphazardly.
And all the lovers' embraces,
And pacts entered into,
And blood enemies sworn
Disrupted.

What if this is the last moment
You get to enjoy the life you have?
Disruption is the course of life.
Your adolescence disrupted childhood,
And your adulthood your adolescence,
Your marriage your relationship,
And your child your marriage.
Admit it.

Nuclear meltdown:
No, that is not the usual way.
But we can learn
From a sudden change,
Because the usual changes
Are submerged
Beneath years
Of anger, frustration and regret.

And opportunities,
Of which every day is full.