Treaty!

Treaty!

the big black
general with
his thick green
coat

hard crinkled
skin like
polished cherry wood

forty-six badges
lined up in a row
what an honor
to bestow

strides over
to the new general
the other side
the opposing team

new general
with oiled skin
stark-white
like the moon
on a cloudless
night

night and day
at war
what reason
is there any


TREATY!
a big black
voice from the
big black man

aiming a gun
at the bleached
old land


the big white
general with his
stark-white skin
recoils at
the sight
of the big black man

BOOM
says the gun
with a thick
full voice

gone is the
tree with
thick green
pine needles

once stood tall
and mighty
doomed with
man-made thunder
cursing her trunk

the big white general
with a deep grey coat
winces at the
sight of the fallen
pine

no treaty there
the man may
know this
quite honestly

peace is a treaty
honest to your
puny badges
who do you honor
says the big black man

big black man
you are no
match for bombs
and guns
said the big white man

i am human
throughout my life
shells and rifles
bear no threat
said the big black man

Teapot is broken
screams little
daughter of
big black man
general winces

mummy is home
sick in bed
i came here
for you
instead

and the big white man
with his true white smile
invited the man
to a small
little tent

and they sat
and talked
and worked out
a deal
for each other

and there was
no more war
'tween night
and day

and the little
girl still
hums and
sings and
prays......