B Reactor Atomic Culture Room: The Blade of Grass in a Dreamless Field

The Blade of Grass in a Dreamless Field exhibit panel in the Atomic Culture Room.

See exhibit panel for specific image credits.

Main Text
At the bottom right, text reads: “The Blade of Grass in a Dreamless Field - ‘Only a few knew it existed; No one knew its power; The world would never be the same again; Changing irrevocably and forever.’ These lines open ‘The Blade of Grass in a Dreamless Field,’ a poem written by atomic bomb survivor Takashi Tanemori. Only eight years old when the bomb destroyed Hiroshima, Tanemori lost his entire family in the blast. As a result, Tanemori began a decades long desire for revenge. He emigrated to America at the age of 18. In the mid-1980s while on his way to a remembrance rally, Tanemori realized he needed to seek peace instead of revenge. His poetry brings to life the harsh reality of the bombings and his journey of healing and forgiveness—a journey he hopes to inspire in others.”

Exhibit Panel Description
An exhibit entitled “Poetry” shows a close-up of a single blade of grass poking up through a hole in the concrete.

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