Remembering the Reading of John Hershey’s Hiroshima in 8th Grade

It is early August
Some leaves are getting a jump on fall

The sound of the wind
Accompanied by a hummingbird chime and
The chirp and duets of songbirds
Creates an inspiring symphony
That invites reflection on life and the day

Life we have learned can be gone in a flash

Shadows of tree limbs full of leaves will change with the setting sun

While pictures of shadows in a book
About a place far away
About an event long ago

Will forever remain burned in my memory

Paul Cech has been writing poetry since 1970. Several of his poems have been published as Saturday Poems in the Pittsburgh- Post Gazette and the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh has published several of his poems in NewPeople. Read other articles by Paul.