Talking At Last (To The Taliban)
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?
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