The Box - Kendrew Lascelles

The Box

Once upon a time, in the land of hushabye,

they came across a sort of box,

bound up with chains, and locked with locks,

and labelled

"KINDLY DO NOT TOUCH - IT'S WAR"

A decree was issued all about,

all with a flourish and a shout,

and a gaily coloured mascot,

tripping lightly on before.

"Don't fiddle with this deadly box,

or break the chains,

or pick the locks,

and please -

don't ever mess around

with WAR".

Well, the children understood -

children happen to be good,

and they were just as good

around the wond'rous days of yore.

They didn't try to pick the locks,

or break into the deadly box,

THEY never tried to play about

with WAR.

Mommies didn't either,

Sisters, Aunts, Grannies neither,

'cause they were quiet, and sweet, and pretty

in those wond'rous days of yore.

Well, much the same as now,

and not the ones to blame somehow

for opening up that deadly box

of WAR.

But someone did.

Someone battered in the lid,

and spilled the insides out across the floor.

A sort of bouncy, bumpy, ball

Made up of guns and flags and all

the tears and horror and the death

that goes along

with WAR.

Well, it bounced right out -

and went bashing all about

and bumping everything in store;

and what was sad, and most unfair,

is that it didn't really seem to care

much who it bumped

or why

or what

or for.

It bumped the children mainly -

and I'll tell you this quite plainly

It bumps them every day

and what is more

It leaves them dead, and burned and dying

THOUSANDS of them, sick and crying

'cause when it bumps -

it's really, very sore.

But there's a way to stop the ball,

it isn't difficult at all

All it takes is wisdom, and I'm absolutely sure,

We could get it back into the box

and bind the chains

and lock the locks..............

But no-one seems to want

to save the children anymore.

Well, that's the way it all appears,

'cause it's been bouncin' round for years and years -

in spite of all the wisdom wizzed,

since those wond'rous days of yore....

And the time they came across that box,

bound up with chains,

and locked with locks

And labelled

"KINDLY DO NOT TOUCH - IT'S WAR"

.........

Kendrew Lascelles