by Marshall Begel

“Woman gets run over [while] saving parking spot for another driver”
—MSN

Through history, our forebears fought
For ownership of land—
Defense provided without thought
By every soul on hand.

The Greeks stood at Thermopylae.
China built a wall.
High stakes had no monopoly—
No quarrel was too small.

Our modern feuds are keeping pace
(A fact you can rely on)
And now, a level parking space
Becomes a hill to die on.