The security of a nation
By armies, tanks, and guns
Expends a lot of energy
But protects our lands and funds

It’s cheaper to defend ourselves
With flowers in children’s hands
But it won’t be as effective
In defending our lives and lands

The cryptographic proof of work
Has served us well for years
It’s not the same as proof of stake
Which will end in regret and tears

True consensus takes some work
This is a feature, not a bug
Bitcoin was built with energy
Not with flowers - not with hugs

Flowers and hugs are mighty fine
But won’t make a network secure
It takes a lot of energy
To make the ledger safe and sure

Through centuries of history
The same old money taint
Creeps in with fiat bewitchery
Bitcoin is restraint

Temptation comes to everyone
There is no perfect saint
Though limits may restrict the fun
Bitcoin is restraint

Like Ulysses with the siren’s song
Our resolve will always faint
Again and again we’ve chosen wrong
Bitcoin is restraint

Inflation soars, and nations fall
Our leaders deaf to complaint
21 million - and that is all
Bitcoin is restraint

Learn about the Bitcoin code
And the meaning of constraint
A stable gift to us bestowed
Bitcoin is restraint

A short quiz for you
Check all that are true
Expand your view
Of this novel breakthrough

Bitcoin is?
A neutral system of value transfer for humanity
The most secure financial computer network
A money based on energy that can’t be counterfeited
The most reliable monetary system yet discovered
A protocol like TCP/IP that can be built upon
Making isolated power sources useful and valuable
Allowing people to think and plan long term
The first truly sound money with a known supply
A censorship resistant medium of exchange
Hope for those living in authoritarian regimes
A transparent ledger for clarity and accountability
All of the above

Beauty’s in the eye
Of the person who beholds
And value’s in the mind
Of the person craving gold

Or a puppy, or a painting
Or a Bitcoin, or a tree
Value’s NOT intrinsic
Value comes from you and me

A thing has value only
When desired by me or you
And people value differently
Just look - you’ll see it’s true

That value comes from valuing
And not “intrinsic” worth
And values vary widely
Across people of our earth

Bitcoin’s proven valuable
To people the world around
Maybe you should get some
As it’s quickly gaining ground

The value keeps increasing
As adoption grows demand
But supply is known and stable
It grows scarce in every land

While bitcoin users daily grow
And uses accelerate
Should you wait to buy your bitcoin
Or buy bitcoin, then wait?

As you learn about hard money
And want to accumulate
Should you wait to buy your bitcoin
Or buy bitcoin, then wait?

When you want to plan ahead
And your needs anticipate
Should you wait to buy your bitcoin
Or buy bitcoin, then wait?

If you want to store your wealth
And value appreciate
Should you wait to buy your bitcoin
Or buy bitcoin, then wait?

Highly secure to send or save
And quick to authenticate
Should you wait to buy your bitcoin
Or buy bitcoin, then wait?

Only you can choose your path
Your future and your fate
But I’ll not wait to buy bitcoin
I’ll buy bitcoin, then wait

Nascent and emerging
Yet growing every day
Bitcoin’s only dawning
Come join without delay

Incipient, forthcoming
With still some way to go
Like a constant drumming
Measured, strong and slow

Budding and beginning
In young and infant stage
Yet nations it is winning
As it slowly comes of age.

Changing us while growing
More freedom and more hope
Still small - yet never slowing
In numbers, and in scope

Original, advancing
It clarifies our view
Bitcoin - worth defending
Continues strong and true

Often when you’re looking
For a meaning to be sought
You can explain a thing
By describing what it’s not

Bitcoin does NOT

Require permission to use
Allow an increase in supply rate
Discriminate in any way
Enable freezing of accounts
Care who is using it
Hide what’s happening on chain
Control what you do with money
Lead to centralized power
Favor the financially privileged

So in your Bitcoin learning
Don’t get all distraught
You can see its massive value
By knowing what it’s not