Attrition Warfare

Rancor seethes through flesh and blood 

A war is being lost and won

Yet from the frontline you won’t see the damage done. 

Collateral within

These are wounds below the skin 

Winner, loser and a casualty of one. 

The propaganda being spun: 

Poison thoughts in loaded guns

Fosters fear that the worst is yet to come. 

Guilt attacks where lies regret

Careful blows lest you forget 

Winner, loser and a casualty of one. 

Dignity is shunned 

As the hatred marches on

And the loss of worth has only just begun. 

There’s no end to the destruction

Strongholds crumble with corruption

Winner, loser and a casualty of one. 

When it seems all hope is gone 

And the beaten lay forlorn 

There comes a whisper and it rises like the sun. 

Get up it sais, and fight

You must gather all your might

Winners, losers and you, casualty of one.

Find the choice where there seems none

Muster strength and rally love 

For now’s your chance to lead rebellion. 

History must turn its page 

A victory for future’s sage 

Winner, loser and the casualty are one.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Altho you are as far from the USA as a person can get, your poem seems written for the mess my country is in (which seems to be prevalent in countries around the world these days). Your repeated line "casualty of one" is the most intriguing part of your poem, becuz we try to decide the identity of this casualty as we're reading. I think it must be the totality of a situation that succumbs . . . the way some people have to win at all costs, even if it means destroying the very fabric of the thing that one wants to win! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[danielle.]

We are our own worst enemy, and also our only savior... this poem reflects not only on the state of the world but on the wars waged within ourselves xoxx

[barleygirl]

Thanks for that added clarity . . .

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear friend.
"Find the choice where there seems none
Muster strength and rally love
For now’s your chance to lead rebellion.
History must turn its page
A victory for future’s sage
Winner, loser and the casualty are one."
The above lines are true. I saw dead cities, dead bodies and I know. No-one win in war. Powerful and worthwhile words shared.
Coyote

[jacob erin-cilberto]

second to last line...should be "its"

but wow...this is so good...war in general doesn't have a winner, really. The loss of life is never worth whatever is being fought for...unless it is freedom from tyranny...but most wars since and including Nam were and are fought for oil or some other financial reason...this is so expressive. We are all casualties...
and as an allegory this works as well...relationship wars and break ups...one might feel a winner, but both end up being casualties in the end...no one wins.

j.

[danielle.]

Eek so it should! Thanks for that, and for the time taken in analysing and understanding this poem. Elle

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed a lesson to be spread across all genres. Religion and politics and life all need humanity to listen and to think clearly as to what grows and what starves the human soul. Nicely set out in a rhyming nicely metred poem.

[danielle.]

Thank you very much for reading my poem and for your thoughtful and insightful comments.

read moreThank you very much for reading my poem and for your thoughtful and insightful comments.

Elle

[Chris Shaw]

Nicely penned. I enjoyed the rhyme scheme and the repetition works. Well done.

Chris

[danielle.]

Thank you Chris