18-33



The Code Not Taken

Peace is Our Profession
Strategic Air Command (SAC) motto

Two codes converged in SAC H.Q.
and worried I could not discern
which one to enter. Seconds few
to verify... is that a "1" or "2"?
What the Hell: Give the key a turn...

I confirmed the first and that's enough;
I'll bet the second is a decoy code.
I picked the first—it wasn't tough,
and took aim at the Russian stuff.
I told my crew to lock and load.

And moments later that fine day,
in scrambled codes I knew by heart,
the order came to send the birds away!
"Our duty not to question why," they say...
I flipped the switch and let the missiles start.

I shall be telling this with a sigh,
after I smelt the burning stench,
two codes emerged from SAC H.Q., and I-
I entered one that let nukes fly;
and that has made all the difference.

by Charles Kersey

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Charles Kersey, @charleskersey, is an IT Systems Analyst to pay bills & artist-humorist during his off-time. His work has appeared in Network Computing Magazine, Candelabrum, WordART, art gallery walls, and discerning private collections. He served in the US Air Force but was never allowed near push buttons or keys without "supervision."