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.