A Tale of Two Countries

Once upon a time,

There was a Distant Land--

In the north were hills and valleys,

In the south desert sand.

Once a powerful empire,

This land faced a threat

From outside intervention

That many would regret.

It welcomed a Mighty Country's

Involvement from far away--

Not fully aware

Of the role that it would play.

A group from the Mighty Country

Helped out with a coup,

Destabilizing the other

And setting things askew.

A new regime replaced

The one that had been deposed.

However, the regime's tyranny

Soon became disclosed.

Discontentment grew;

The leader fled for his life

And begged the Mighty Country

For refuge for him and his wife.

The people in the Distant land--

Angry and abused--

Wanted their leader returned;

The Mighty Country refused.

So, the people took

Matters into their own hands,

Taking fifty-two hostages

For negotiating demands.

For 444 days

Conditions remained very tense

Until the release of the captives.

The damage was immense.

"Be careful what you ask for"

Is a common phrase.

The Distant Land would now

Suffer in other ways.

The new religious leader

Ruled with an iron fist

And added more names

To his enemy list.

Later the Distant Country

Was attacked by its Neighbor,

Which received outside assistance

To help it sharpen its saber.

Help--for example--

From the Mighty Nation consisted

Of poisonous chemicals,

Which, of course, sounds twisted.

Imagine the horrible suffering

From a war that went on and on--

Ending eight long years after

Battle lines had been drawn.

Both nations--the Mighty

And Distant one have maintained

Their strained relationship

From which nothing is gained.

Each accuses the other

Of harboring evil intentions;

Both countries resist

Workable interventions.

Adding to the strain
Are sanctions from the West,
And nuclear weapons issues
Have needed to be addressed.

From dis- and misinformation,

Its the people who lose.

They're always caught in the middle,

Between opposing views.

Unless the two countries can
Aim for a higher ideal
Of peace and harmony,
Their wounds will never heal.

(9-19-15; 10-5-18) By Bob B