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.
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