B Reactor Atomic Culture Room: A Haiku for You

The A Haiku for You exhibit panel in the Atomic Culture Room. See exhibit panel for specific image credits.

**Main Text **

At the bottom right, text reads: “Our collective fascination and fear of nuclear technology is expressed in popular culture in many ways from the atomic awakening of mutant creatures to a comically inept nuclear safety operator.

“We have used poetry to express ourselves for centuries. One popular form of poetry is a Japanese haiku. A traditional haiku consists of three short lines that do not rhyme in a pattern of five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables. The modern form of a haiku does not follow this set pattern but still uses short lines and colorful descriptions to illuminate a brief moment in time.

“What does the nuclear age mean to you? Share your answer by writing a haiku. Use the words in the baskets below to create your haiku. Arrange your haiku on the magnet board to the right. If you cannot find the right word, use the chalk to write your own word on the blank blocks in the baskets below.”

**Exhibit Panel Description **

On the wall above the table, a poster entitled “A Haiku for You” displays a number of iconic illustrations and cartoons relating to the atomic age. At the left, a large, black drawing of Godzilla shows a yellow and red flame shooting out from its mouth. At the top center, the text of a haiku appears over a black-and-white still cartoon image helmet-wearing turtle reads: “A turtle named Bert, Wants you to duck and cover, Care for head and tail.”

Just to the right at the top, a haiku on the face of the classic “Rosie the Riveter” image reads: “A red bandana, Blue coveralls for Rosie, Women can do it!!”

At the top right, a third haiku appears over a black-and-white photograph of a lone metal tower in a vast, open landscape. Text reads: “Metal tower holds its prize, Countdown to a blinding light, Opening of the Atomic Age.”

Visit This Exhibit Panel

In-person visitation of the B Reactor is only authorized on guided tours offered by the Department of Energy.

Where this belongs

• Manhattan Project National Historical Park

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