The last man standing..

Talk of Nuclear war again. The foolish people thinking about using the nuclear weapons. Need to watch the movie. "Mad Max."

The last man standing

"This is the way the world ends
    This is the way the world ends
    This is the way the world ends
    Not with a bang but a whimper." 

T.S Eliot

A story by Coyote Poetry
Not a happy story. A story to create logic and questions my friend.     

                          The last person standing…

  Last person standing….

(Will the last man standing. Ask? Who won the final war? He would tell the setting sun. No-one.)

I had a bad dream. A realistic dream. I was the last person standing. No-one won the final battle. Nuclear weapons departed from every continent. The lucky people died instantly. Us left had to make the decision. The pills or die slowly/badly.

Like in the story “On the beach” by Nevil Shute. A few places lived though the dropping of the nuclear
weapons. The un-lucky few out of the 40 mile kill zones waited for death and the wind brought the final killing. A deadly illness came to you. Slowly tearing your inside out and the bad death. The surviving leaders decided to give the option beside a shot-gun or pistol. They offered the pills. On the box written.

“Recommend to take when the pain is too strong. Recommend take the pills when you have physical strength still. God bless the USA, God bless the people left.   Signed Medical county executive.”

No-one had won. The Jews scream and cries to the end. The chosen people died first, than the nuclear weapons left France, the USA and Russia. Then India led the rest of the world. The Middle East was done quickly. Israel shot weapons at friend and enemies. No-one knows why? Mass confusion left the world in chaos. Few places were not touched. After the nuclear weapons killed off the great cities. The complete world went to silence.

The people left asked questions. There were no leader left to questions. I sat alone with pills in hand. I have been doing the rosemary tea and taking the vitamins for days now. I went to the un-locked CVS and took what I thought would extend my life. My family took the pills and laid in a final sleep in the back bedroom. I put friends and neighbors to their beds. The smell of death was in the air and  I was left to write the final words.

                     The final words…

No-one had won the final battle. I wonder if the few acres of land and oil was worth the death of mankind? The Jews stood their ground. Now just like all races. Back to earth our rotting body will go. The Arab world hope their oil and God would save them. God, Buddha or Allah did not save anyone. The human race create a way for mass killing. Odd part was. All these countries with nuclear, bio and chemical warfare and no-one would believe some fool would start the final war. The media went dead many months ago. The first attack led a fury of nuclear weapons to be shot to all continents. Rumors had it. Places like France and Israel had systems in place. Went to automatic release of the weapons. Most of us who survived believed the world went mad. Nuclear and Bio weapons kill without care for race, color or religion. Rich men and poor men died.  I wonder do the Jews believe they won? I wonder do the Arabic countries believe they won some kind of victory? The scary part is. The great powers. Russia, USA, Great Britain, France and India shot at ghosts and murdered the world.

Where I stood at the time, of the day of death in October. Nature was still okay. Us human were affected by the radiation and the poison in the air. At first we thought the final survivors. We could rebuilt the world and make it better. We gathered and had great dreams. We gather together create small villages of people. We tested the food. It was still okay. Some people, mainly ex-military lived even being in the 40 mile kill zone. I was a Soldier once. I knew nuclear weapon have three kill zones. The first 40 miles is instant. The second 40 mile was slow and bad death and the next 40 mile is slower and more painful death. I did not tell them, the survivors. I did find someone in the medical field who was left. He understand and he decided to make the pill a option. The pills were not offered till the people got sick. It was a bad sickness. First stomach pain, than the body weaken and the mind became confused. I have given the pills to many. I would lay them in their bed. Hold their hands and try to make them laugh. The last people died not with tears. We knew it was too late for tears. My five grandchildren were young and they died quickly. I held them in my arms as the pill took them to a peaceful sleep. I bury them in my yard and I would talk to them daily. My last family member I laid down was my daughter in her old room.  We cried together and prayed. I wanted death then. I put a shot-gun to my head and I knew, I couldn’t. I was the last level headed man left. Many young people were still left. Many were just children who needed my help and guidance.

Today I’m alone. I laid the last woman of thirty name Amanda in her bed. I held her hands and I caressed her face. She told me. I will see my sons soon. The pill was kind. She sang to me and she told me. Please Johnnie, find your favorite place to die. Please take me with you. I drove my car 100 miles in four directions. I saw no movement of any life. I did see some damaged on the outskirts of Detroit. Detroit was took out first with all the major cities.  I listen to my radio and there is only silence. The sickness I could feel now. I knew I couldn’t explore and see if anyone had survived anymore. I had the pills in my pocket and I knew. I had a few days left. I went home and said goodbye to my resting family. They died without knowing too much pain. The pills was fair. Took you to a restful and final sleep gently.  I decided to go to my ancestor’s place to die. I drove to Port Austin, Michigan and I went to the Lake Huron. I would pray, burn some sage and die with the great forest near. I arrived barely. My back and legs were gone. I drove my truck deep into the Ojibwa forest. I slowly walked to the Lake Huron. I sat near the water and tossed the cold water on my face. It awoke me completely for a second. I lite the sage and did a whispered prayers.

 “God of life and death, God of the great forest and water. Forgive us for what we done. Man reached his goals. He killed off what is beautiful and sacred. Please take me to my Grandmother, Grandfather, father, wife, grandchildren and children at the big Pow wow. For us who loved the land and the children, please accept a tire man a place to rest.”

 I placed my Circle of life near me and my stones stored in my power bag around me. I put my dream catcher on my neck and asked the trees and the sky. Why did hate and greed control the world? Who won? There is no Israel, no Middle East. The land of Africa, the America and Europe is silence now. I hope the men who wanted war over peace have a place to feel the heat of their hate and violence. I meditate and find faces of laughing grandchildren. I put the pills into my mouth. I feel the drugs slowly making me rest and know peace. I loved the view of the Lake Huron. Funny, I swear I hear my Grandchildren yelling to me. Over here Grandpa. We have been waiting for you. I touch the nearby tree and fall into my final sleep.

                      End

This is fiction. The book of Nevil Shute wrote of a different world and weapon. Our new weapons, bio and nuclear can do more damaged than the time of Nevil. This was a dream. If we don’t get along. Whole world will know his bad dream. Israel, Arab world and everywhere must stop the violence. One foolish country can do us all end. This is one planet and one people. I believe we all need to be scared. Want scary. Read the policy of nuclear weapons of France and the USA. Heal, not kill. Pray and demand peace for the children. All children.

                           Coyote/John Castellenas

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[D. Mansfield]

Powerful writing, and with your unique style, even better. I believe that God can save us, individually, and that os how we must change. Individually. Our country won't get stronger til we INDIVIDUALLY right our paths, and open our hearts to neighbors and enemies. We can Love our way out of anything

[Coyote Poetry]

I do agree my friend. A raised fist and guns in our hands. Not a offer of peace. Thank you for reading and the comment. I do appreciate.

[Soren]

This theme is common to some films that I have seen books that I have read, but I have to say I have not had this dream. As a metaphor, we are all condemned to death slowly, some quicker some take the pill and kill themselves. Most of us take the slow way out. Some of us are condemned to watch our families die before our eyes some of us outlive our children and many of our children bury their parents, but I do not see death as an end. It is only part of the cycle of life and we continue on in the thoughts and wishes , hopes and memories of those left behind. The worst part is the world we leave behind for our children to cope with. The most interesting right coyote it is dark and sinister but at the same time it is nature we are part of nature, maybe the bad part.

[Coyote Poetry]

Old saying written somewhere. We come from the earth and we will go back Soren. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Eternity]

Thank you for writing this, Coyote. I wish and pray just the realization of all you write could turn the world all the way around and back to worldwide peace.
Maybe, just maybe if we pray hard enough, we can extend God's mercy for a little while longer.
...Or maybe His mercy is to end it.

[Coyote Poetry]

Poor God had a hard job. Our world leader have forgotten kindness. United Nation trying to seek peace. Russia and USA vote again. I pray and hope for better days dear Glendak.

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. Great job.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Thomas. Trump isn't President yet. And we are talking Nuclear war. His policies set the USA back 62 years.

[Marie]

The agony, misery, pain and suffering of end of days is extremely well inked in this so very poignant story, dear John. I feel "T" will have a very short honeymoon as President before cracks begin to show! You are so right, there is no God going to come to save us, WE must save OURSELVES, but how to do that is the million dollar question. Russia is a very hardened country like Germany and Putin has a heart made of stone. He cares for nothing apart from his progress in taking over the world, which I believe is his aim. He has threatened both the USA and the UK this week! His ships have been escorted from our Irish waters where they were near pipelines with the intention of cutting them, as in the UK and Germany. I feel 2025 will be a year filled with danger for all of us and pray I am wrong, dear John. Our beautiful world is in turmoil at the moment, there is no peace, no joy, no love. Only greed, avarice and materialism. The spiritual has been cast to the side. As you so rightly say "There are NO winners in war!" Yet, that does not deter the leaders, sadly. They will go on and on and on to the very last drop of their last soldier's blood. Your poem is a wake up call for all who read it, dear John. It is excellently penned. Thank you for sharing it, dear friend...

[Coyote Poetry]

The book by Nevil Shute is a movie also. "On the beach." His version in the fifties version of my poem. I like the book. It create people trying to survive and hold on to hope. The last ten pages of the book. I believe saddest 10 pages. I had ever read. Thank you dear Marie for reading and the comment. We must pray and hope for common sense.

[Marie]

Most welcome always, dear John...

[Paul in the Buff]

Such an insightful, yet distressing story.

I really hope we can see what we're doing before it is too late...

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too Paul. Russia leader talking nuclear war. Hard to understand. Nuclear bombs, do not care. They will kill everyone. Thank you for reading and the comment.