Victory

With early victory come sunbeams.
Later, come smoke and ash that hide defeat.

Victory

Bob Komives

We now retreat,
but first we won
over.whelm.ing.ly.
We thought we knew
to administer our place,
to celebrate our art,
to hand our wisdom
to generations that we would save from history.
Soon, we end retreat,
regroup and wait,
to remember how victory came
and forget which way it went.
So, let us post now an order to govern our attack
when we take back the larger part.
Some of us
(duty bound)
must turn coat
to defend retreating enemy
and there defend our victory.

Early victory brings sunbeams.
Total victory portends defeat.
Let us stop this time where the sun shines.

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 1998 :: Victory :: ,9816