The sword and the shield become rust
followed by the truncheon and the rifle.
Then the tank, and the aeroplane
and the gasmask
(which probably has little metal on it, anyway)
– they all rust away –
useless as passing generations
find more creative ways
to get the job done.

Certain bombs get rusty
while others maintain their standards.
Certain guns last.
Certain kinds of men and women
last through many generations
and do remain standing
to kill
over and over again.