area 51

Reno poet provides an interesting perspective on one of Nevada's most mysterious locales.

By ALONZO CLAYTON | November/December 2008

The Las Vegas news quoted Howard Hughes
Whose statements were always interesting.
Although in seclusion, he disliked nuclear fusion
And called for an end to such testing.

But testing resumed and clouds mushroomed
Over many unsuspecting locations.
With warnings unheeded, tests were deemed needed
In view of Soviet cold war provocations.

Fallout was dumped on the town of Pahrump,
Where the streets were bare and stark.
In the park were things like slides and swings,
Which were feared might glow after dark.

This similar vicinity to where Project Trinity
Made glass from white New Mexico sand.
It should be noted that Nevadans had not voted
To allow such use of our land.

The government lied and persistently denied
Knowledge of Area 51’s existence.
Through secret legislation, without representation,
They required us to stay at great distance.

With miles of desert barb-wired, they continually conspired
To keep us off that government reservation.
To utilize armed camo dudes seems patently crude
In contrast to our supposed free nation.

Guarded by sentry, signs warn of no entry,
By authority of federal regulation.
They will use deadly force, which means, of course,
They’ll shoot you without hesitation.

Strange things are done at Area 51,
Like reputed reverse-engineering.
Or experiments with beams spurting in streams
That result in solid objects disappearing.

The town of Rachel’s nearby and I ponder why
Its bar is named The Little A’Le’Inn?
Have they already seen through the government’s scheme
To keep secret their little green men?

The proprietor surmises that the government disguises
Some patrons of The Little A’Le’Inn.
A grayish pallor may be seen as a way
To allow aliens to mingle amongst men.

I suppose it is so and now when I go
Into the desert I always look back.
It’s not easy to see behind which Joshua tree
May be secluded a man dressed in black.

So out on those grounds are a few clowns
Who answer to no one we know.
They have set precedent, it’s doubtful our president
Is in charge of running their show.

It has ever been thus, when to a few we entrust
Supreme authority, if only for an hour.
To remain so exclusive will lead to abusive
Uses of their extreme power.

That human trait, if recognized too late,
Will result in our freedom’s demise.
To storm those barbed gates and bedevil the fates
Is our only last chance to survive.

So bring out the clowns, we’ll go a few rounds
And see if they have any balls.
For in truth they may not, for what they have got
May be too alien to call.