Demetrios Trifiatis Poet Didactic

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 April 9, 2014 at 7:23 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 April 9, 2014 at 7:29 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 March 3, 2014 at 5:17 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 April 9, 2014 at 7:31 AM Yes, dear Vicki, my words have comforted him and unfortunately, many others. Thank you my dear friend!

Ralph Sergi February 13, 2014 at 1:45 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 February 14, 2014 at 6:10 PM Thank you so much "caro" Ralph for your visit and kind comment!

Donna Jones February 8, 2014 at 12:54 PM You are a fountain of knowledge Demetrios....and this one so touching as well.. Demetrios Trifiatis February 20, 2014 at 2:21 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 February 6, 2014 at 9:48 AM Nice poem .Full of feeling and expression. I love it. Demetrios Trifiatis February 14, 2014 at 6:21 PM Thank you Deepak, you are so kind!

Lucilla Carrillo February 4, 2014 at 11:16 AM Another great write coming from you. I have not heard from you in days. I hope you are doing good...... Lucilla Demetrios Trifiatis February 5, 2014 at 3:48 AM I am fine! Thank you!

Christine Phillips February 2, 2014 at 10:09 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 February 14, 2014 at 6:22 PM I appreciate your visits vey much my dear Christine. Thank you so much!

Lucilla Carrillo January 23, 2014 at 12:23 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 February 20, 2014 at 2:28 AM Dearest Lucy, thank you! Hope your health is always improving! God bless you!

Anne-Lise Andresen January 22, 2014 at 3:52 AM - A fantastic well written poem (as always), with interesting thoughts and questions. - Have a great day - oxox // Anne-Lise :) Demetrios Trifiatis February 20, 2014 at 2:26 AM Thank you so much my friend, Anne Lise for your kind comment!

Sara Kendrick January 21, 2014 at 8:08 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 February 20, 2014 at 2:29 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 January 20, 2014 at 6:40 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 February 20, 2014 at 2:31 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 January 20, 2014 at 9:23 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 January 20, 2014 at 7:26 PM My pleasure Demetrious. Demetrios Trifiatis January 20, 2014 at 5:53 PM Thank you, Richard, for wishing my friend to be victorious! Also thank you for your appreciation and your polite comment!

Andrea Dietrich January 19, 2014 at 10:53 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 January 20, 2014 at 8:33 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 January 19, 2014 at 10:44 AM What a great friend you must be. Great words of wisdom. This is a great piece. Thank You for sharing. Tim Demetrios Trifiatis January 20, 2014 at 8:36 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 January 19, 2014 at 6:31 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 January 19, 2014 at 8:05 AM Russell, my friend, once more I thank you for your precious comment! God bless you!

Nette Onclaud January 19, 2014 at 4:54 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 January 19, 2014 at 8:04 AM Nette, my dear, thank you so much for visiting and for appreciating my efforts. You very generous with your comment!

Eileen Manassian January 19, 2014 at 1:27 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 January 19, 2014 at 8:03 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!