after the battle

[fledgist]

we want to say that when the dragon's dead
it was a worthy foe yet when it drew breath
we feared the flames that came out of its head
and cheered when it fell from the sky in death
we want to measure all our little powers
against the largest adversaries that we can
we want to preen and strut in the short hours
that triumph holds for every living man
so we praise once it's dead our giant foe
we claim that it was great and noble when
all it brought to our families was deepest woe
and we never wish to see its like again
against the fires against all the hard knocks
what's left when we are done is paradox