the defeated
the defeated
skirmishes have been lost and won show scars here scars there
dallying with death and danger wrapping the wounds in scraps
sweat shines in the heat of the sun throbbing tired to the despair
short moments of terrible anger miracles escaping cunning traps
battle have been lost and won of gashes gores gains and glosses
ghosts sprawled in shallow trenches vultures circling in the wait
flies cluster under a heated sun not yet time to raise the crosses
thirsts no amount of water quenches god food of vanity and hate
wars have been lost and won clean cemeteries filled to the brim
statues of the heroes and champions lining the victory avenues
the days of remembrance done the memorials all dark and grim
of the lost platoons and lost battalions and of the lost revenues
empires have been lost and won so all the dead lay cold in beds
god’s dusty empty throne is spun a thin gossamer of spider webs