Eye of Newt

Terrorism conjures fear
Like witches stir a brew.
Both have dire circumstances
When the day is through.

Bombs that blow and planes that crash
From devious devices
Are the modern eyes of newt,
Which crones toss in as spices.

Panic percolates and boils
And fills our souls with dread.
Beefing up defenses
Makes us paranoid instead.

Terrorists plant seeds of doubt
Which worm inside the core.
Like a sip of poison,
There’s no need to do much more.

For when that fear’s inside us,
He who conjured it must grin
And cackle like the hag who knows
Her potion’s lodged within.