Chernobyl Quote by Darcie Dennigan
““The child affixes one of her little pictures to my refrigerator. She asks, Can you detect the radiation? There is a house, one tree, and grass in dark slashes. A sun shining. Beneath, in her child letters, she has written Chernobyl. At kindergarten they must be having nuclear energy week. One could look at the picture and say everything is in order. No, I say, I cannot see the radiation. The radiation poison, she says, sits inside the apple and the apple looks pretty. Then singsongs, Bury the apple and bury the shovel that buried the apple and put the apple-burier person in a closet forever. We are both thinking Then bury the burier. Both thinking of her picture with no people. The poison sits inside the people and the people still look pretty, she says.””
About This Quote
Source Short story or poem (unknown)
A child’s drawing of Chernobyl reveals invisible radiation poison, symbolizing hidden dangers that appear harmless.
In simple terms: Invisible threats can be present beneath a pretty surface.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden dangers despite appearances.
Themes
radiation
children
invisibility
danger
perception
Chernobyl
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
environmental
When to use this quote
- nuclear safety education
- parent‑child discussions
- public health campaigns
Key Concepts
environmental health
psychology
artistic metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How to teach children about invisible hazards?
- What symbols help convey complex risks?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on metaphor may obscure scientific facts.
