Gladiator
I am a gladiator.
I am undefeated and always will be.
Relentless rage and brutal force pummel me,
yet, still, I stand.
I will not yield,
no matter their army.
I will not succumb,
no matter their hold.
I will not surrender,
no matter their best,
or their worst.
I am a gladiator,
and none have bested me.
They cannot.
I am a gladiator.
I live to fight, but I’ve never won.
Relentless rage and brutal force pummel me,
and, still, I stand.
They will not yield,
no matter my resolve.
They will not succumb,
no matter my virtue.
They will not surrender,
no matter my best,
or my worst.
I am a gladiator,
but, I’ve never known victory.
I cannot.
I am a gladiator.
I am peace. I’ve no quarrel with you.
Relentless rage and brutal force pummel us,
still, we stand apart.
We must not yield,
no matter the lies.
We must not succumb,
no matter illusion.
We must not surrender,
no matter their best,
or their worst.
I am a gladiator, as are you,
though we have never struck each other.
We cannot.
Our battles are within.
Matthew Merkle
August 22, 2017