You’ll Try Everything Eventually

In March of 2022,

Two old men who’d lived their whole lives

With the threat of nuclear war,

A war that hadn’t happened yet,

Although it could at any time,

Sat discussing apocalypse

As if it could be optional,

And not forever threatening.

One said it must be avoided,

Even at the terrible cost

Of endless, blood-soaked proxy wars,

Even letting brutes use the threat

Of annihilation to shield

Wars of criminal aggression.

Nothing’s worth starting World War III!

The other old man disagreed.

We should push them back, push them back.

And if they start it, we’ll end them.

How long we’re gonna be bullied

By every madman with the Bomb?

Overhearing this, you shuddered,

Since it hit you that the answer

To his rhetorical question

Was: until some threat’s carried out.