Modernise or bust

'Modernise or bust' by James Elliott

The powers of the West, the greatest and the best,
agreed to make a plan for no more war.
After days and nights of labour, each resolved to love his neighbour
by spending more on weapons than before.

This was fine for arms promoters, but how to tell the voters?
The subject called for careful presentation.
To make more sound like less, or force like peacefulness,
needed casuistic explanation.
 
No need to be pedantic, just a question of semantics,
of finding words to suit each deputation.
The communique was signed, but in each signatory’s mind
there dwelt a different interpretation.
 
Each statesman swelled with pride, for not one of them had lied,
so they halved the total figure, but made the warheads bigger
with exponential increase in potential.
 
With diplomatic skill they made sweet the deadly pill
by using turns of speech like ‘modernisation’ –
a phrase like ‘up-to-date’ might conceal our nuclear fate –
no need to agitate the nation.
 
Dear reader, I should hate to destroy your faith in NATO,
in Polaris, Trident, Cruise or Satellite,
but they play a deadly game, who bargain in our name,
and who cling to the belief that might is right.
 
So if the sirens start to blow, you’d surely like to know,
before your little home goes up in dust,
that the missile on the way, will be bang up-to-date that day.
FORGET THE COST, LET’S MODERNISE OR BUST.

James Elliott (1915-1993) was a Quaker at Malvern, Horfield and Bournemouth Meetings. This poem, taken from his book of poems Choose Life, was submitted by Connie Hazel of Bournemouth & Fordingbridge Meeting after the decision to renew Trident was made in parliament.

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