Selling Bombs

Selling Bombs

by William Alderson

This year we’re going to gift-wrap all our bombs,

add season’s greetings, ribbons, fancy bows,

and promise to deliver them by Christmas.

We sell traditional gunpowder black,

uranium grey and phosphorus white (quite chic),

and promise to deliver them by Christmas.

They won’t come with the usual post –

our military supply them all by jet or drone,

and promise to deliver them by Christmas.

We guarantee that all your friends (or enemies)

will greet our bombs with wild cries of surprise,

and promise to deliver them by Christmas.

Our bombs are ethical, so don’t complain –

we have a motto “Peace and goodwill to men”,

and promise to deliver them by Christmas.

(2015)