Natalee Cruz









FALLOUT SHELTER
show me a whole fish
a school of tuna now irradiated



although at home below
tuna cannot duck and cover the way



children of the San Andreas
fault were once taught



hold on to the legs
of desks



hold tight may the shelter not shimmy away
when the earth starts to tremble



parts of the ocean unexplored by human touch
besides our destructive dust



the atomic bomb plummeting into the depths
a sharp poke leaves a bruise



they died because their houses were not clean
they don’t know what we know



we duck and cover
we live like turtles



walk and take care
not to expose our necks to predators



when the alarm sounds
if the alarm sounds



we will run not walk to our new home
a new age



illuminated droplets
falling until finally afloat



merging into a singular home
it has always been safe at home



what is there to say
about Christmas lights



twinkling like scales
under the afternoon sun?