'Air Raid Shelter' Poem by Linda Winchell

At one time there were air raid shelters
they were in everyones back yard, back then.
And in schools they would hold air raid drills
where children would go through steps
if only just pretend.

We were told to kneel down on the floor
and place our hands atop our heads.
I remember thinking how stupid we all looked
and I would rather be outside playing instead!

Then a siren would announce, 'ALL CLEAR! '
Where we would all return back to our rooms.
We all were sorta looking forwards to one day
hearing a bomb go, BOOM!

How little did we know back then
that these drills came from a war that had just won.
But to children never experiencing this
to us, was just like recess war game fun!

I'm glad that our children, don't have to go through what we did
no air raid shelters or those scary drills.
And the most they will ever experience
is torando and maybe a spontaneous, monthly fire drill.

Most all of air raid shelters built
have been filled in with rocks and soil.
With the hopes that we Americans
will never experience a war on American soil.