A teacup viewed from above, filled with brewed looseleaf tea Photo: By Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Poem: Einstein on peace
'Today we sat in the flat on Station Road...'
‘You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war. The very prevention of war requires more faith, courage and resolution than are needed to prepare for war. We must all do our share, that we may be equal to the task of peace.’ Albert Einstein, as quoted in Einstein On Peace, edited by Otto Nathan & Heinz Norden.
Today we sat in the flat on Station Road,
drinking mugs of dark Thai tea, discussing
what these wars are doing for the world.
How they break out on Earth
and take the next decade so lightly.
He leans towards me and offers a quote
from Future Sense. His book has been
reverberating in my brain like
the great gong in Ubon Ratchathani.
Einstein On Peace, as if Albert
was a theologian rather than a physicist.
I relished six or so quick sips, there’s
something reassuring about a well brewed
aftertaste of hot camellia leaves.
Warm Peace. Cold War.
We seem relaxed in this anxious paradox,
a crucial point in our evolution.
He reminds me of Einstein, albeit without a
magnificent moustache.
His smile, broadly confident; today peace
is released on bail, the philosophy
of the streets warms the pot.
You see, world leaders can’t have it both ways.
It’s so easy to spoil. Now then my friend,
we mustn’t let that tea get cold.
