Wars Are Won Before the Battles

in the end, those who stand
stand true 
because they can think around corners
see the fight before the battle
see the hurt before the injury
see their survival

in the others death

before it ever starts

without regrets, without pity

without shame, without remorse

without guilt, without fear

always. . .

in the end, those who stand

learned long before they came

to make do with what they had

to take from the others mistakes

all they ever needed, to in the end

. . . stand true

as they deal in guile
they deal in cunning
as they breath survival

as their only bible

and they see tomorrow

because they feel no sorrow

before they ever came. . .

they stand true

a warrior, through and through  

forever and always

the end

Author's Note

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

One needs to read this at least a couple of times to take it all in. You've composed something extraordinary here. It deserves recognition!

My best,
Kelly

[Davidgeo]

Thanks for that Kelly. Perhaps not extraordinary but, I think it's pretty good. I've been called narcissistic before though.