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.