THE BOX
by Lascelles Abercrombie
Once upon a time, in the land of Hush-A-Bye,
Around about the wondrous days of yore,
They came across a kind of box
Bound up with chains and locked with locks
And labeled “Kindly do not touch; it’s war.”
A decree was issued round about, and all with a flourish and a shout
And a gaily colored mascot tripping lightly on before.
Don’t fiddle with this deadly box,
Or break the chains, or pick the locks.
And please don’t ever play about with war.
The children understood. Children happen to be good
And they were just as good around the time of yore.
They didn’t try to pick the locks
Or break into that deadly box.
They never tried to play about with war.
Mommies didn’t either; sisters, aunts, grannies neither
‘Cause they were quiet, and sweet, and pretty
In those wondrous days of yore.
Well, very much the same as now,
And not the ones to blame somehow
For opening up that deadly box of war.
But someone did. Someone battered in the lid
And spilled the insides out across the floor.
A kind of bouncy, bumpy ball made up of guns and flags
And all the tears, and horror, and death that comes with war.
It bounced right out and went bashing all about,
Bumping into everything in store.
And what was sad and most unfair
Was that it didn’t really seem to care
Much who it bumped, or why, or what, or for.
It bumped the children mainly. And I’ll tell you this quite plainly,
It bumps them every day and more, and more,
And leaves them dead, and burned, and dying
Thousands of them sick and crying.
‘Cause when it bumps, it’s really very sore.
Now there’s a way to stop the ball. It isn’t difficult at all.
All it takes is wisdom, and I’m absolutely sure
That we can get it back into the box,
And bind the chains, and lock the locks.
But no one seems to want to save the children anymore.
Well, that’s the way it all appears, ’cause it’s been bouncing round
for years and years
In spite of all the wisdom wizzed since those wondrous days of yore
And the time they came across the box,
Bound up with chains and locked with locks,
And labeled “Kindly do not touch; it’s war.”
Last night I had the strangest dream
I ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war
I dreamed I saw a mighty room
The room was filled with men
And the papers they were signing said
They’d never fight again.
And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round
And guns and swords and uniforms
Were trampled on the ground.
Jump down the shelters to get away
The boys are cockin’ up their guns
Tell us general, is it party time?
If it is can we all come
Don’t think that we don’t know
Don’t think that we’re not trying
Don’t think we move too slow
It’s no use after crying
Saying
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake
After the laughter has died away
And all the boys have had their fun
No surface noise now, not much to say
They’ve got the bad guys on the run
Don’t try to say you’re sorry
Don’t say he drew his gun
They’ve gone and grabbed old Ronnie
He’s not the only one saying
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake
Tell us commander, what do you think?
‘Cos we know that you love all that power
Is it on then, are we on the brink?
We wish you’d all throw in the towel
We’ll not fade out too soon
Not in this finest hour
Whistle your favourite tune
We’ll send a card and flower
Saying
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake
It’s a mistake, it’s a mistake