Following the most serious accident in the history of the nuclear industry, on 26 April 1986, large quantities of Caesium-137 (Cs-137) were released. Although that was more than 30 years ago, an Exclusion Zone with a 30-kilometer radius around the nuclear power plant is still in place. No housing, no industry, no agriculture. High levels of Cs-137 persist in the soil. In 2007 the Ukrainian government designated the Exclusion Zone as a wildlife sanctuary.

beyond reach
the nightingale’s song
touches us still

David J. Kelly

is a scientist by training, who is fascinated by words and the music of language. Since 2010, he has been especially interested in Japanese short form poetry, including the hybrid forms of haibun and haiga. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and received a few awards. His first collection, Hammerscale from the Thrush’s Anvil (Alba), was published in November 2016.

More on the Web: By, About, and Beyond

⚡ David J Kelly: 25 poems in Living Senryu Anthology