Olives

by Len Krisak (April 2016)

Sometimes a yearning for surrender comes—

                     A hunger for defeat

         And longs for bitter crow to eat.

                                

Sometimes that appetite goes unappeased

                     By pie, however humble.

         A bit, but then we cave and crumble,

 

Craving humiliation fit to swallow,

                     Starving for abasement

                                 We pray will follow

         The giving in to our effacement.

 

Then comes the day that always comes, when we

                     Have gulped down all we will.

                                 Then we shall see:

         If we have truly had our fill    

 

Of ceding everything, each precious bit

 

And we have lost that craven appetite

                     And now will take no more,

                                 But stand and fight

         The terrible, the needful, war.

 

 

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