Thus Are World Wars Started
Between two and three in the afternoon
Buses are rare and come once in a blue moon.
At the Bus Stop in front of Usher Hall
There are two men, one tall, one rather small.
The small chap plays a game on his i-phone
Whilst the taller one makes a tuneless drone.
Seemingly unaware of each other they wait
Each hoping the bus ain’t gonna be late
In twenty minutes a Lothian bus appears
Allaying both the tall and small men’s fears
The Burgundy bus stops and its doors open
It’s nearly empty with only six or seven
Seats occupied, but both men are in a rush
And they angrily jostle, tussle and push
Use their elbows and their knees in their scramble
Just like a pair of wild beasts in the jungle.
The tall fellow pulled the shorter one by his sleeve
This is something I truly can’t believe
He said, crashing on the ground on his bum
Are you crazy, stupid or just plain dumb?
Couldn’t you see the empty seats, is that possible?
Neither here nor there, it’s the principle
I will have you know that I was here first
No sir you’re a big lying cunt, he cursed
Suddenly springing up on his two feet
Shouting angrily you’re dead meat you’re dead meat
Pulling the other man he punched him on the nose
Which led to a serious exchange of blows
It was manifestly an unequal fight
Tall one battering small one with all his might
He, well-beaten and fearing for dear life
Saw no alternative to producing a knife
And blindly stabbed the tall man in the head
Bleeding profusely, in five minutes he was dead.
