Conquest Poem by Chester Whitfield

Charlemagne killed for dawn
pouring through battle saddened trees
something better, the future
It lies in the arms and legs
lying still, slain like weeds
Napoleon saw the beauty of new light too
with Ceasar and all those
who picked up a sword
to a let a rising sun go a little higher

and

If Hannibal knew he was campaigning
for briefcases and
espresso machines and
three hundred stylized men in suits
waving finger signals and money
hopping and dancing like scared pigeons
He would have jumped off his elephant
let it cleave its path
and walked all the way home