When You Fight Your Own War Poem by RIC BASTASA

there is a vision that haunts you
that is,
that moment when you see yourself pushed against a wall
against all
you are one,
you are whole, against all,
and you are pushed against a wall,
so you defend yourself,
dislodge what they force upon you
that you are weak, dumb, and insufficient
that you succumb to a
dismal defeat, all your Waterloos showing,
yet, you face them
retaliate, injure, harm and hit
so many shall be wounded
and some shall realize
that you do not just take oppression for granted
somehow you know what defenses are
you have a spear on one hand
fire on the other
you shoot, you put fire to burn
the windmills,
the donkey, and those strong feet that obstruct your way
they will have second-thoughts
this man is a fighter
this man knows his ground
we leave him alone
he is good.