how wars begin

one very
tall man slaps
the other tall
man
across
the face with his
open hand.
the game has stopped.
the sound
of the hit
freezes everyone.
blood rushes
out the nose
of the struck man,
while the other
takes a fighter's
stance, ready
for retaliation.
no one moves.
this is how
wars begin.
but it doesn't,
at least not this
time.
the bloodied
man cleans up,
then the game
continues.
you get the feeling
that this is
not over.