The Mistake

They opened up the box again

Labelled, “DO NOT TOUCH, IT’S WAR”,

For all the men and powers that be

Could constrain themselves no more.

They unpicked chains, unlocked the locks

And tumbling out came war,

All the terror and the killing,

Such atrocities and more.

All the children started screaming,

While many people fled,

Lives surely changed forever

Underneath the skies of red.

It floated on a sea of tears

From a million eyes that cried

And brothers, sisters, sons and wives

Were the innocents who died.

And not a single sorry came

From the men or powers that be,

Yet they had made a grave mistake,

It was plain for all to see.

They should have opened up the box

That would see all terror cease,

The one tied up with golden bows

And labelled, “THIS IS PEACE”.