Evaporating promises

Diplomacy can be a fig leaf for surrender A wolf agrees to postpone the dismember If you want peace, prepare for war Peacetime is what aggressors use it for. Countries have interests, leaders have ambitions For some expansion is a holy mission. Cost and benefits, incentives and deterrents Under peaceful oceans can be riptide currents. The Sioux were promised sacred ground, But promises became vapor when gold was found The ink had faded, land was cleaved, Were they fools when they believed? Chamberlain’s last words were “if only Hitler hadn’t lied” But Hitler did, and millions died Dictators arm, they probe, they strike when strong When goals conflict with oaths, words don’t last long. The U.S. and North Vietnam signed the Paris accord but no strength to back it, we dropped the sword. Our resentful congress cut off army aid The North swept into the vacuum congress made Israel and Hezbollah signed a document The Jihadis would stay far, but close they went they dug tunnels under the Galilee Jews left when they knew no safety guarantee. North Korea vowed it would refrain From forging bombs yet forged again. They brandished missiles, filled their store: Their final ace was nuclear war. Russia and the U.S. and U.K. did assure Just give Russia your nukes, their motives are pure a treaty sold to Ukraine as preventing invasion Then missiles hit cities and warfare is raging. Like snow in the sun, words transpire Melt away when the stakes grow dire. A promise, a pact, a solemn vow— Not many stand unbroken now.