Which One Remains

The two men make

Their way to the stage

To put forth their cases

Debate and engage

The first is a poet

A Purveyor of verse

The second a terrorist

What could be worse

 

And the subject discussed

In the coming hour

Bullets or Words

Which has more power

The poet will open

And set out his case

The terrorist will follow

Hatred etched on his face

 

The poet rises and takes to the floor

As the room falls still

Composing his words and collecting his thoughts

With a delicacy and skill

He looks for Inspiration

She said she'd be here today

He asks her to stand with him

And guide all that he will say

 

I step up

As you step down

And we find 

Some common ground

Blood and toil

Flesh and bone

As we change

This world we've known

You choose a gun

Sleek and slim

I choose a pen

So let's begin

 

The terrorist calmly

Rises to speak

Telling those gathered

That the world is weak

He turns to the poet

And not holding back

Unleashes a stinging

Verbal attack

 

Words as weapons

There's a novel idea

Words that hurt

So cracks appear

Words that are sharp

Just like a shard

That they leave people broken

Torn and scarred

 

The poet again

Takes to the floor

And turns his attention

To casualties of war

To many dying

So many dead

This world is sick

Of bleeding red

On our streets

The blood it runs

It's time to quench

This thirst for guns

 

The terrorist  rises

To speak once more

Silence greets him

But his words are sure

My time is short

So my words will be few

Let me show you the damage

That words can do

Words are powerful

I'll give you that

Words can do damage

When they are spat

Angry words spoken

In the heat of the day

And once they are said

We can't take them away

 

The poet rises

To interject

Sir if I may 

With the greatest respect

Talk briefly on Culture

And History too

Gun Laws have changed

But the changes are few

We've guns on our streets

Sir what can we do

When arguments are settled

With a .22

And Sir with respect

I will finally say

That guns kill and wound

And take people away

 

I will let this man speak

For I know that I should

Let me show you that words

Are forces for good

Words can buld up

Yeah but words can tear down

Words can encouage

Leave a person to drown

Words can give hope

And peace to each one

Life and Death Sir

Is in the power of the tongue

 

Guns have no place

These weapons of war

I don't see any good

That a gun is used for

Keeping the peace

You know I don't quite figure

And another soldier dies

Because someone pulled the trigger

 

A Judge now enters

As closing statements are spoken

A handshake a gesture

A passing token

The Judge dressed in robes

For this case is unique

Surveys the courtroom

And rises to speak

I've heard your cases

And I must conclude

That both are powerful

If properly used

But both are weapons

That leaves scarring and stains

So I'll leave it to you

To decide which one remains