I heard a man on the radio
talk about the dirt in Japan
that has to be moved
at least the top four inches
and be stored away
for three hundred years
so radiation won’t
contaminate new rice plants
that cannot be planted
until street sweepers
scoop up enough new dirt
from untainted areas.
He begged people to help
move good dirt to Japan.
He was practically crying.
I felt bad, I want to help
move earth to Japan
and improve my general attitude
regarding dirt.
Whereas
certain US authorities on inanity
claim that the people of Japan
have nothing to worry about.
With all that radiation
they are probably less likely
to die from cancer.
We’re a great country.
—Hanne Gault, Ellison Bay, WI
