Home » Poems » Michael Coy » The Ranch Hand's Babies, Part 3 of 3

The Ranch Hand's Babies, Part 3 of 3

(When the true toxicity of Agent Orange
was finally comprehended, the Johnson 
Administration could think of nothing
better to do than simply dump the
chemical on a chain of Pacific islands,
where it sits today.  Ironically, the
place is named "Johnson's Reef".)


Johnson's Reef

This nasty gunge
is worse than nukes.
It's carcinogenic.
(Ask the gooks!)
Let's put it some place
idyllic, scenic,
far away in outer space.

Stick it on some island chain
where, if it starts to leak and stain,
we're buffered by
the wide Pacific.

Careful with that rotting crate.
Gently does it. Way to go.
Just leave it on the beach.
Where could it reach?
Who knows?  Let's blow.
Which way's The States?

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Darren White

Date: 3/31/2017 5:00:00 AM

My heart aches and cries over atrocities like these. What you mention is just one horrible 'incident' in a long row. And it still happens. Western countries dump their nuclear and other waste in other contries. What does it matter that whole generations will die deformed? And then we go to some museum to stare and yell EEEWWW at monsters we created, poor little unborn babies who never had a chance. How sick is that? (Comment for all three poems)

Michael Coy
Date: 4/1/2017 2:48:00 AM

Yes, it's very sick. Thank you, Darren, for investing so much understanding and emotion in my humble scribblings.