soul entropy

breaking news 1: CHEMICAL EXPLOSION, 1969

photo caption: “CHEMICAL EXPLOSION shattered classroom in North Vancouver’s Braemar Elementary School and injured 12 students and a teacher Tuesday. Blast, triggered by two boys trying to make flares, blew out windows and ripped hole in floor, foreground.”

This is the 1st in a series inspired by news reports. I was a pupil sitting in my Grade 6 classroom just down the hall when it happened.

“12 Pupils, Teacher Injured in North Van School Blast” 
–The Sun, February 26, 1969 (Vancouver, B.C. )

No, a piano had not just tipped over, 
as some other kid guessed 
(what else in that innocent time?);
the brutal jar of the concussion 
was no mere wrong note 
in the melody of the day. 

Pianos don’t choke hallways 
with smoke, discordant wails, 
blow craters in linoleum, 
or wither to grey a teacher’s face. 

No, this fuse, lit by unfledged chemists, 
test tube babes wanting a flare up,
needing to cross the swaying threshold, 
potassium chlorate and phosphorus 
waltzing sweetly on the other side, 
requires a greater dispensation. 

Gone for half a century,
the fire brigade, ambulances, 
ministries to the maimed, 
the blinded, counsel 
to the aggrieved: 
what strain, what formula now 
for grace, forgiveness? 
To know the measure 
of soul entropy—
lifetimes of regret 
burning down.