The symbolic mason's trowel, unused

At the dawn of our nuclear age

nuclear power was all the rage.

“Atoms for Peace” was the catchy phrase

ushering in those brave new days

of unlimited power, it was claimed

safer too than what remained

of nuclear weapons used in war.

Safer than what had come before:

to prove their point they made a trowel

(as if they were a foolish owl)

acting wise in their cranium

a trowel made of uranium.

A symbolic gesture meant to soothe

the fears of those it sought to prove

there would be no nuclear spike

if it’s held by President Ike.

Smarter minds at last prevailed

the uranium trowel was not unveiled.