The Leander Affair by Bob Atkinson

The Leander Affair

(c)2012 Bob Atkinson

such is the way we see

ourselves as in the middle

while others see us in the wrong

some just play their fiddles

Leander comes to mind as such

an example of the ways

in which questions of right and wrong

were subordinated to the stronger arm

back in imperial days

when force was used for profit

men of arms carried out their orders

without insight or strength to stop it

Leander stood off the coast

looking for evidence of trade

with those with whom the empire

fought their silly forceful game

some called themselves in the right

some knew they were in the wrong

yet either way their martial deeds

caused fire and death to throngs

finding one can loose his head

by minding traditions inert

hence setting off real emotions

of those marching across the dirt

few ships spanned the time

when force was used so much

as a simple way of life

violent promotion of them against us

some who had those histories

of lives so parallel

took to the martial ways

which sent them all to hell

hell can be defined as

where the evil go

or where the struggle takes us

on this road to our Alamo

Leander fought for many years

not for simple right or wrong

she fought for defined ways

upon which nature urged her on

natural conflict between all parties

who struggle to dominate

with thoughts and preachings,

holistic teachings

and violence for those who take

a stance against the other

whose empire wants to control

minds and commerce

through simple dominance

along that old dog's road