You, foot soldiers,

who yell from your solid ranks

and dig moral trenches

embedding yourselves

in self-defined virtues

patting yourselves on the back,

won’t survive when the chariots come

with their innovations and rapid manoeuvres

and the flash of their wheels in the sun

if you don’t learn to adjust

and be flexible, knowing your failings,

your flailing, a horror to watch

you won’t survive this defeat

your offers of gifts won’t work

this is not a puritan country

rigidity of thought is never a blessing

if you don’t regroup or retreat

you will lose every battle

you must learn all these lesson

if you ever hope to return