|
Menu
|
|
|
Social
|
|
|
|
Violence
Contributed by
scipian
on
Friday, 5th June 2009 @ 04:38:29 PM in AEST
Topic:
war
|
The glory days are now distant past,
and life itself may not long last.
The merciless wolf marches on,
it seems there will be no dawn.
Sicily was lost,
at enormous cost.
Sardinia fell,
during civil hell.
Spain crumbled,
as Carthage was humbled.
Hannibal's army struck terror into the foe,
caused their city utter woe.
From victory to victory he went,
Rome's armies were heavily spent.
Yet Rome would never yield,
and her city's walls were a strong shield.
Hannibal's assault on Italy failed,
as Rome's army sailed.
Carthage's homeland was conceded,
for their very lives they pleaded.
Tribute had to be paid,
freedom was stayed.
Years later the terms came to an end,
and Carthage was on the mend.
Peace, prosperity, wealth,
power had been regained in stealth.
But as in the past,
Carthage's return is not allowed to last.
On a poor excuse the war begins anew,
Carthage vainly trying anything in lieu.
An agreement is made,
and both parties agree on a trade.
Three hundred children are given as a sign,
trying to buy peace with this costly fine.
Then Rome ignores this plea,
and demands a higher fee.
Now they order arms to be laid down,
or they will raze every town.
Carthage agrees once more,
and gives up their massive store.
Then Rome ignores this plea,
and demands a higher fee.
The city of Carthage itself is the cost,
to be burned to the ground and lost.
This final demand was beyond thought,
so the citizens finally fought.
For years they repelled the assault,
striking at every Roman fault.
But gradually they fell back,
unable to bear the attack.
Starvation,
deprivation,
frustration,
there would be no salvation.
The Roman army, a giant swarm,
readied to take the city by storm.
The defenders fought to a man,
with a very simple plan.
No surrender would be accepted by Rome,
and this is their very last possible home.
The only option was to fight till death,
fight with every last breath.
Four hundred fifty thousand died,
and their proper respect was denied.
The few survivors were sold as slaves,
scattered across the waves.
Carthage was gone,
victim to Rome's brutal brawn.
Their city gate broken down by hate,
violence solved Carthage's final fate.
("My mother said violence never solves anything." "So?" Mr. Dubois looked at her bleakly. "I'm sure the city fathers of Carthage would be glad to know that.") - Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers
Copyright ©
scipian
... [
2009-06-05 16:38:29] (Date/Time posted on
site)
Advertisments:
|
|
|
|
|
Sorry, comments are no longer allowed for anonymous, please register for a free membership to access this feature and more
|
|
All comments are owned by the poster. Your Poetry
Dot Com is not responsible for the content of any
comment. That said, if you find an offensive comment, please
contact via the FeedBack Form with details, including poem title
etc.
|
|
|
|