The Bishop’s Long Diagonal

[dukealien]

The Bishop’s Long Diagonal



“It’s possible,” said Bishop Talleyrand,
Old confidante, turncoat, and paragon
Of guile, to his Napoleon the grand,
Bright chief of millions, squad by battalion,
“To do anything with bayonets,” he said,
“But sit on them.”  In view of this advice,
Napoleon commenced a war.

                           We’ve read
Of pacts allowing nuclear device
And missiles to Iran - but is there none
To mention that while nukes intimidate,
And threaten, and deter, the way things run,
In history, there’s this to postulate:
    You can do anything with nukes, my friend,
    Except fight wars with them.  Those, they just end.

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Loose sonnet form, to Miscellaneous since it's not exactly "for fun."  Enjoy