once weaponized,

it’s difficult to disarm

–still more

to be

disarming–

to speak softly…

since the olive branch

is

the big stick,

and the

white flag

is

the shroud,

(tied around that big stick)

and the dove of peace

is

the caged bird,

loosed only to mitigate

fallout–

–a freedom

contingent on war.

©Karen Robiscoe