APRIL FOOLS' DAY 1940
The snakes in London zoo have all been killed,
their keepers mourn - but now they're asking why.
A sky of cloudless Air Force blue is filled
with silver porpoises, balloons winched high
against the bombers that may never come.
Gas masks are left behind and ITMA scorns
the Minister of Aggravation, some
evacuees return, the city yawns.
"This is a Bore War," people mutter while
they pin black cardboard over windows, fail
to pump their shelters dry, Silence, fragile
as phoney peace, waits for the siren's wail.
A child writes home to Stepney: "Mum, down here
this is called Spring - they have one every year."
