Cherry blossom petals
… fallen from the A-Bombed Trees of Hiroshima and near my home in Hull
A symbol fraught with history
In war you became flowers of mass destruction
Appropriated as nationalistic military propaganda
Sending young soldiers to their deaths
Glorified then, once spent, fell to the ground
Now you are a fleeting moment in time
A symbol of hope, renewal
A brief moment
Because women and girls are biologically more susceptible to the consequences of nuclear weapons’ use and nuclear weapons testing
Because women and girls suffer harmful effects of ionising radiation and negative consequences including psychological health, displacement, social stigma and discrimination
Because we must be left with something to breathe