Felicitously Gifting One's Enemies

When a nation becomes too complacent

over its hard-fought independence

its nation-building energies look elsewhere

to be expended on other value-driven

projects and the management that led to

peace and prosperity suddenly finds itself

confronted with the ages-old spectre of

political, religious and social divides

driving people into their separate coteries

of resentment and opposition. Each faction

convenes assemblies sharing an enraged

sensibility against the other and suddenly

the country becomes polarized as never before.

Before when external dangers threatened the

stability and existence of the nation there 

was accord and a shared existential mission.

Now, while external threats remain latent

awaiting opportunity to yet again strike they

have the leisure of simply watching and waiting

for there is no need for their own action when

the nation and the people they morbidly hate

appear on the cusp of raging self-destruction.