World War II

 

 

Fifty five million people were killed
at a cost per corpse of over
a quarter of a million dollars,
a third their weight in gold.

Which took a total firepower of three megatons.
Which is the energy
of a seven minute hurricane
or of one hour of the world's tides.

Who got a mention?
The history book names 117
or one in half a million.

The advantages
   a rise in technology
      massive development in agriculture.

Indeed, by the equivalence of matter and energy
the firepower condenses to the mass
of a small potato.

How much does this represent 
of all the energy used in human history?

Compare an electric fire to an earthquake
or a full stop to a small dog.

The graveyard would cover an entire city.
The gold would fill
 
 

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