Oscar Zero

Stoically unnoticed by the daily grind
A tribute to the Big Chill, a half-century of time

At grindstone odds with the hammer and sickle
Mutual assurance is the biggest brown pickle

Fifteen manned stations, ten flyers each at the ready
Pushing that button, the finger is far from steady

Even if the fail-safes are top of the line
It sends the biggest chill down your spine

It's a sixty-foot ride down into the belly of the beast
It's a humbling, sinking experience to say the least

From Malmstrom to Ellsworth, Whiteman to Warren
Standing on a knife's edge is never, ever boring

Decoding three levels of cookies for the magic code
Nobody is worrying about the plight of Ol' Tom Joad

Countdown to extinction, our race produces no hero
This is the unfortunate legacy of launch site Oscar Zero

And our counterparts across the planet, over the sea
Only the sick pessimists guffaw with malevolent glee

But the scenario is exacerbated beyond bipolar bounds
We, the first world nations, are the f*****g clowns

India, Pakistan, Britian, China, France and Israel
Humanity is running itself off of the living rails

Awaiting the day when the multiple flashes occur
And it's finalized by all those radioactive blurs

Too late for extra continues, the game is over
For humankind, that universal four-leaf clover

Author's Note

I actually work at this place.

Reviews

[Rene Velez]

so true, I assume this is about nuclear power and the demise of humanity, the power struggle to be recognized in the world has every country trying to enter the nuclear race, it's a sad thought that this is the only importance for countries instead of focusing on world hunger, poverty, and human equality, thanks Ken always good reading your work

[ButterflyWonderland]

"But the scenario is exacerbated beyond bipolar bounds
We, the first world nations, are the f*****g clowns."

My favorite lines. I love the honesty in this one.