The Shell

Panic.
A whistling in the air.
Shell comes flying.
I dive for cover.
Deep thud, shell lands.
Then...

No boom.
I look up in wonder.
A hole in the ground.
No wounded or dead.
Unexploded shell.
A moment goes by,
My mind blank.
An explosion of movement,
No-one stays near.

A silent hissing.
No one else has heard it.
I snap on my mask,
Scream GAS!
Too late...