The Gladiator

It is peculiar that in the story of great battles, the loser attains a level of heroism and fanfare that is matched only by that of the winner. In other words, great battles may have only one winner, but they have no losers, for the glory of the fight is what, like the gladiators of yore, most of the battlers fight for.

The deed is done, the hour is nigh
Blood and sweat, spilled in equal measure
Your words belie what spake your eye(s)
When the prize was lost, gone was the treasure

When Gladiators walk out, the world doth watch
In respect, in boredom, but mostly in awe
For they wear on their sleeve brave hearts
And fight for honor, to be the bravest Caeser saw

But Gladiators are lucky, in that they
Go quickly; a sword, spear or similar bane
Ignominy sits heavier than Armour they say,
Fittingly, they live not long in shame

But you, the world will not swallow whole
(Offer you escape from a battle fought hard,
Offer you escape from a battle lost hard,
And so it is fated, that you pick yourself up)
Go out, as a proud Gladiator once more.

~The Gladiator