War starts when the rulers each believe
By spying,watching ,calculating chance
They ‘ll gain more wealth or land than now received
Can we humans give or get relief,
Or must we gain our damned revenge at once?
Will we gain more gold than now received?
The working men obediently deceived
Or took excessive joy from polished lance
They too from promised payments were bereaved
The leaders think that honour heals all grief
They see no more of trenches than a glance
They often gain more wealth than humble thieves
The soldiers who hang back are felled like leaves
The generals have that overbearing stance
They from final payments aren’t bereaved
An accident,a shot, unhappy chance;
A torrid love, a fatal unthought glance.
War can start when rulers force belief
They ‘ll take another’s goodness unbereaved
