Thank You, Sir Peter
So “terrorism is the poor man’s war
And war the rich man’s terrorism”—this
Provides a clarity to metaphor
Which our petty dictators often miss:
For “terrorism” as a word
Will bandy men about
In any circumstance, allured
By vagueness, whereby clout
Unto their aims may be conferred,
Without a lot of doubt.
If war is but the rich man’s terrorism,
While terrorism war that is the poor man’s,
So ideologically one notes a schism
As to explain uniqueness of performance.
Eppure si muove—so it is
Ideas can also move,
Though words sometimes are called remiss
When they “fit like a glove,”
And thank—for this analysis--
Sir Peter Ustinov.