through the window
curtain open
i saw the grandchild
come to visit next door
toy sword in hand
playing vigorously
jumping about
the childish urge
to partake in dark, adult activity
and i caught myself hoping
for some sudden reason
somehow
maybe someday
he might really have a chance
to use that sword
in a future
in his future
he would be so lucky
to die by the sword
to die honorably
protecting
some other child’s future
yet all i could see
was this child
and some miserable vain death
in the swift march
toward senseless extinction
will it be disease?
will it be starvation?
maybe irradiation
maybe torture
he would be so lucky
to die by the sword