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Pyrrhic Victory

PYRRHIC VICTORY* Written for a friend who has cancer! Who are you, oh Death? Are you: A friend Or A foe? My liberation Or My condemnation? The end of my troubles Or The beginning of my tribulations? The sunset of the temporal Or The dawn of the eternal? Whoever you are, Unafraid before you I stand, Waiting For the moment we meet face To face. If As a friend you come, in the middle of my Peaceful sleep, With great joy, I will throw myself into your Cold arms, BUT If You come in the form of an incurable Disease I will fight you with all my might, Yielding not, A single molecule of mine, to your voracious appetite, Without A ferocious battle to give Thus When your anticipated win ever comes-after A billion battles- Your victory, Oh Death, a Pyrrhic one would be! © Demetrios Trifiatis 19 JANUARY 2014 *When Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus, Greece, invaded Italy in 279 BC and engaged the Romans In the battle of Asculum he was victorious but at a great cost, for he lost a great part of his army! After the battle, he declared: "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined". It is from this declaration that the term "Pyrrhic victory" originates.

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Jan Allison

Date: 4/9/2014 7:23:00 AM

Such powerful words on a theme so close to my heart - thank you so much for pointing me to this poem - it means such a lot to me. Hugs Jan x

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 4/9/2014 7:29:00 AM

Happy to be of help my dear Jan, although I would be happier if you and your husband had not been through these "Testing Times". You know for more than thirty years, with Gods grace, I am helping people to overcome situations like this! God bless you! You could read LIFE IN ETERNITY and THE CROSSING although this doesn't apply to you!

Vicki Acquah

Date: 3/3/2014 5:17:00 AM

I am sure your words has comforted him. I am sure that God will send mercy and grace.This poem is profoundly heartfelt.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 4/9/2014 7:31:00 AM

Yes, dear Vicki, my words have comforted him and unfortunately, many others. Thank you my dear friend!

Ralph Sergi

Date: 2/13/2014 1:45:00 PM

Hi Demetrious: A wonderful simile although sad for your friend. And a great write. But I have known friends with this horrible affliction and they have fought against it. I wish you good health or as my father used to say, "Stare bene e battere il diavolo!

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/14/2014 6:10:00 PM

Thank you so much "caro" Ralph for your visit and kind comment!

Donna Jones

Date: 2/8/2014 12:54:00 PM

You are a fountain of knowledge Demetrios....and this one so touching as well..

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/20/2014 2:21:00 AM

Thank you dear Donna for your generous comment! Out of this...fountain, only a few drops of knowledge may, from time-to-time come out!

Deepak Chalise

Date: 2/6/2014 9:48:00 AM

Nice poem .Full of feeling and expression. I love it.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/14/2014 6:21:00 PM

Thank you Deepak, you are so kind!

Lucilla Carrillo

Date: 2/4/2014 11:16:00 AM

Another great write coming from you. I have not heard from you in days. I hope you are doing good...... Lucilla

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/5/2014 3:48:00 AM

I am fine! Thank you!

Christine Phillips

Date: 2/2/2014 10:09:00 AM

A very strong poem depicting the battle against life and death. Death is inevitable and we cannot deny it.. yet we must fight against it. Some people don't like to talk about death because of the horror attached to it. Yet when it comes knocking at our door we cannot deny it. Nobody departs from this world before its his or her time. Yes you have fight death for death is death itself.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/14/2014 6:22:00 PM

I appreciate your visits vey much my dear Christine. Thank you so much!

Lucilla Carrillo

Date: 1/23/2014 12:23:00 PM

I enjoyed reading this. I sometimes wonder when I am real sick - that I won't have the strength to fight, but I am still here. My sister died of Cancer many years ago. Thanks for sharing... Lucilla

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/20/2014 2:28:00 AM

Dearest Lucy, thank you! Hope your health is always improving! God bless you!

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 1/22/2014 3:52:00 AM

- A fantastic well written poem (as always), with interesting thoughts and questions. - Have a great day - oxox // Anne-Lise :)

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/20/2014 2:26:00 AM

Thank you so much my friend, Anne Lise for your kind comment!

Sara Kendrick

Date: 1/21/2014 8:08:00 AM

Enjoyed reading your work..Cancer is a horrible disease that is attacking our nation..I feel for your friend in his/her suffering..Thanks for stopping by..Sara

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/20/2014 2:29:00 AM

Dear Sara, thank you for visiting! Sorry for the delay but there are some things that need my attention! Take good care!

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 1/20/2014 6:40:00 PM

sO VERY TRUE AND I CAN SEE YOU THIS WAY, BRAVE, FAITHFUL, TRUE. oopsie sorry I always it enjoy it when you stop by & I love verse with reference's to history or myth. Light & Love

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 2/20/2014 2:31:00 AM

Thank you for visiting dear Debbie! I pray not to find myself in such a situation but if I do, I pray to be as you see me to be!

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/20/2014 9:23:00 AM

Excellent! I love how you described this battle. I hope your friend is victorious and that his battle will not be accompanied by great losses. Thanks for the accompanying explanation.

Richard Lamoureux
Date: 1/20/2014 7:26:00 PM

My pleasure Demetrious.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/20/2014 5:53:00 PM

Thank you, Richard, for wishing my friend to be victorious! Also thank you for your appreciation and your polite comment!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/19/2014 10:53:00 AM

A very powerful poem!! I enjoyed your comparing it to the battles with the Romans! the note was quite helpful at the end.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/20/2014 8:33:00 AM

After philosophy, which is my field of studies, history is my great passion, for without knowledge of history we cannot, as Bernard Russell has said, call ourselves really educated! Thank you Andrea for your visit and comment!

Tim Smith

Date: 1/19/2014 10:44:00 AM

What a great friend you must be. Great words of wisdom. This is a great piece. Thank You for sharing. Tim

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/20/2014 8:36:00 AM

Well my friend, thank you for your visit and your gracious comment! Since it is the first time we meet I would like to welcome you to our Poetrysoup family!

Russell Sivey

Date: 1/19/2014 6:31:00 AM

What an educational write you have given to us to read my friend! I just loved reading this fascinating poem here this morning! What a brilliant piece you have written, such a grand poem, Great Work!!

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/19/2014 8:05:00 AM

Russell, my friend, once more I thank you for your precious comment! God bless you!

Nette Onclaud

Date: 1/19/2014 4:54:00 AM

you give lots of effort for us to understand the background of your work... I enjoy your pieces ... words of art; this one a battlecry ... they stay with me, demetrious.. fine job!. huggs

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/19/2014 8:04:00 AM

Nette, my dear, thank you so much for visiting and for appreciating my efforts. You very generous with your comment!

Eileen Manassian

Date: 1/19/2014 1:27:00 AM

As usual...your poetry is filled with wisdom and lead in the path of learning. Oh, how I love to learn from you, my dear philosopher. May God bless you. Please check your mail.

Demetrios Trifiatis
Date: 1/19/2014 8:03:00 AM

Dearest Eileen, what a sweet thing your comment is! If I can contribute to learning, happy am I, as every other teacher is, you included! May God bless you and may Lebanon stays out of the fighting!