Oliver Mckeithan Poet Free verse

Mutually Assured Distruction

Mutually Assured Destruction

Air-raid drills in the hallway,
air-raid shelters in the backyard,
neither would have worked.

If us and the Russians would have
gotten MAD at each other 
the Cold War would have been toast.

In 1990 with détente,
no one would get MAD
or so we thought.

Perhaps the Russians will get MAD
at the Ukranians. The Ukraine gave
up its nukes, so perhaps AD instead.

Maybe the Iranians will now get the
bomb and be MAD at the Israelis. Or
maybe the Israelis get MAD first.

Perhaps India gets MAD at Pakistan, or
maybe they get MAD at each other.
So, they will be MAD together.
Perhaps we will all get MAD at
the same time. Oh well, no one
will be left. 

MADDENING.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Gershon Wolf January 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM Seems to me that the vast majority of people here in Chicago swear by the motto of MAD Magazine's mascot: 'What-me-worry?' ~ Alfred E. Nincompoop Oliver Mckeithan January 13, 2025 at 12:50 AM I'm not in Chicago but Alfred did play a part in inspiring this poem.