Talking At Last

Talking At Last

It’s been a long time

That we have not been speaking

To one another

But I knew what you were thinking

Understood your motives

And got the messages you were sending me

Through the things I saw you doing

And I watched the videotapes

Of you broadcasting to the world

And there was communication of sorts

And there were some weasel words

Passed through go-betweens

Because neither of us would admit

To our fiercely loyal friends

That there was ever any contact

But now at last we’re talking

It’s all out in the open

And the fighting’s nearly over

Dancing round the subject

Of our long estrangement

And being diplomatic in the desert

Delicate negotiations

Parleying peace terms

Jaw-jaw replacing war-war

So why did we wait so long

And let so many soldiers die?

Did so much time really need to pass

And so much blood have to flow

Before we could concede

And yield to the inevitable

That neither of us could ever win?

So while the warriors stand aside

And slump exhausted to the ground

Having fought themselves to a standstill

The politicians move in to smooth things over

And we are forced to ask ourselves:

Was it really worth it?

And is there any greater understanding now

Than there was so many years ago

When all this first started?

Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2015