• Submit Poetry
  • About Us
  • Members
  • Support SCP
Friday, October 10, 2025
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Art
    • Children’s Poetry
    • Covid-19
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Found Poems
    • Human Rights in China
    • Humor
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • Terrorism
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
  • Poetry Forms
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Pantoum
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondeau
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Sestina
    • Shape Poems
    • Sonnet
    • Terza Rima
    • Triolet
    • Villanelle
  • Great Poets
    • Dante Alighieri
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Homer
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Robert Frost
    • William Blake
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Art
    • Children’s Poetry
    • Covid-19
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Found Poems
    • Human Rights in China
    • Humor
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • Terrorism
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
  • Poetry Forms
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Pantoum
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondeau
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Sestina
    • Shape Poems
    • Sonnet
    • Terza Rima
    • Triolet
    • Villanelle
  • Great Poets
    • Dante Alighieri
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Homer
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Robert Frost
    • William Blake
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
No Result
View All Result
Home Poetry Culture

‘Losing Battles’: A Poem by Warren Bonham

September 17, 2023
in Culture, Poetry
A A
22
poem/bonham/culture

.

Losing Battles

It seems when we declare a war,
we rarely win them anymore.
So, though much money will be spent
by our corrupted government,
the thing on which war’s been declared
is very likely to be spared.

A recent war was Poverty.
A worthy target certainly.
With trillion after trillion spent,
we haven’t even made a dent,
but we’ve heard many empty quotes
that only served to buy more votes.

RELATED

‘When Helen Keller Met Mark Twain’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

‘When Helen Keller Met Mark Twain’: A Poem by Brian Yapko

September 21, 2025
Five Rose Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Translated by Alan Orsborn

‘Roses Are Red’: A Poem by Evan Tester

September 10, 2025

The War on Drugs was then declared,
and drugs, perhaps felt briefly scared.
We haven’t yet declared defeat,
but we are in a full retreat.
Now drugs and needles can be found
wherever kids are all around.

We launch more wars and then pretend
we have a plan to somehow end
the war that we began today
forgetting wars launched yesterday.
We’re good at spending more and more
but don’t know how to win a war.

But politicians can’t admit,
when outcomes are the opposite.
So, endless hearings will be held
to make it seem like we excelled,
with many sound bites on TV
for all the lobbyists to see.

But politicians still excel
at doing one thing very well.
They can’t beat poverty or drugs,
but they will send out teams of thugs
to hunt down anyone who knows
our emperor’s not wearing clothes.

.

.

Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas.

ShareTweetShare
The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.
Read Our Comments Policy Here
Next Post
poem/arredondo/culture

Thoughts on Education Outside the Box: Poems by Anna J. Arredondo

poem/howard/love poems

'Meditation on the Myth of Sisyphus': A Poem by Daniel Howard

poem/graham/culture

'Under Which Altar': A Poem on Abortion by J.D. Graham

Comments 22

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson says:
    2 years ago

    Great poem that makes the perfect political statement. Of course, the gifting of billions of dollars in equipment to the Taliban could be added, but this is an excellent list of the waste of tax dollars that could have reduced federal debt, balanced the budget, and saved the taxpayers trillions.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      Funding the Taliban is another great example. I also enjoyed reading about how the CIA used our tax dollars to cover up the origins of Covid (which they may well have funded as well). There are new (and depressing) examples almost daily.

      Reply
      • Joseph S. Salemi says:
        2 years ago

        JFK wanted to cut our out-of-control CIA down to a controllable institution, after its many blunders and crimes. That’s why he was cut down in Dallas 60 years ago, with CIA collusion.

        Reply
  2. Phil S. Rogers says:
    2 years ago

    Warren;
    A really great poem to start my day. The truth, right on target. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      Sometimes all you can do is laugh about it.

      Reply
  3. Cheryl Corey says:
    2 years ago

    Great poem, Warren. It seems that the government always has to declare “war” on something – witness “climate change” – to give themselves permission to take command of resources, redistribute wealth, create new regulations, etc.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      You nailed it. We pick the wrong wars and then don’t even fight to win we do go to war.

      Reply
  4. Mike Bryant says:
    2 years ago

    This poem says it like it is. It seems that any “war” is just an excuse to spend lots of money. Of course, the big guys take their take, bureaucracies are created, taxes are raised, and everyone’s happy… except for the poor idiots paying the taxes and inflated costs of a hopelessly corrupt system.
    BUT if you can get in on the larceny… you’re golden!
    Great poem.
    Oh yeah, don’t forget “EMERGENCY” another great way to soak the masses.
    As everyone knows we are in a climate emergency now… we used to call it summer. It’s only a matter of time before UFOs (or is it UAPs, it’s hard to keep up) are an emergency. And big Pharma is still getting new Covid vaccines approved for “emergency” use… give me a break!

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      It’s tough writing those tax checks knowing what the money is used for

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Erlandson says:
    2 years ago

    They declare a war on terror, and then let who knows how many terrorists come in over the border, because it wouldn’t be compassionate to stop them. Thank you for the poem, Warren.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      The definition of Terrorist is a lot different today than it used to be.

      Reply
      • Joseph S. Salemi says:
        2 years ago

        Today “terrorist” means anyone who gets in the way of what the left-liberal Deep State wants.

        It’s what the anti-Semite politician Karl Lueger in turn-of-the-century Vienna used to say: “A Jew is whoever I say is a Jew.”

        Reply
      • Mike Bryant says:
        2 years ago

        Like, “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.”

        Reply
  6. David Paul Behrens says:
    2 years ago

    Masters of War (Song Lyrics)

    Come you masters of war
    You that build all the guns
    You that build the death planes
    You that build the big bombs
    You that hide behind walls
    You that hide behind desks
    I just want you to know
    I can see through your masks

    You that never done nothin’
    But build to destroy
    You play with my world
    Like it’s your little toy
    You put a gun in my hand
    And you hide from my eyes
    And you turn and run farther
    When the fast bullets fly

    Like Judas of old
    You lie and deceive
    A world war can be won
    You want me to believe
    But I see through your eyes
    And I see through your brain
    Like I see through the water
    That runs down my drain

    You fasten the triggers
    For the others to fire
    Then you sit back and watch
    When the death count gets higher
    You hide in your mansion
    As young people’s blood
    Flows out of their bodies
    And is buried in the mud

    You’ve thrown the worst fear
    That can ever be hurled
    Fear to bring children
    Into the world
    For threatening my baby
    Unborn and unnamed
    You ain’t worth the blood
    That runs in your veins

    How much do I know
    To talk out of turn
    You might say that I’m young
    You might say I’m unlearned
    But there’s one thing I know
    Though I’m younger than you
    Even Jesus would never
    Forgive what you do

    Let me ask you one question
    Is your money that good
    Will it buy you forgiveness
    Do you think that it could
    I think you will find
    When your death takes its toll
    All the money you made
    Will never buy back your soul

    And I hope that you die
    And your death will come soon
    I will follow your casket
    In the pale afternoon
    And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
    Down to your deathbed
    And I’ll stand over your grave
    Till I’m sure that you’re dead

    Bob Dylan – 1963

    Nice poem, Warren.

    Reply
  7. Warren Bonham says:
    2 years ago

    Dylan was a giant. I’d be interested to hear what he thinks of the current insanity.

    Reply
    • Mike Bryant says:
      2 years ago

      I looked up Dylan… I thought he had faded into the background but, apparently, he has 30+ tour dates THIS YEAR!

      Reply
      • Warren Bonham says:
        2 years ago

        I had no idea he was still touring. I just added that to my To Do list for the fall.

        Reply
      • David Paul Behrens says:
        2 years ago

        Dylan turned 82 this year. He mostly lives on the road. Beginning what is called the Endless Tour in 1987, he plans to keep on performing until he drops dead or is otherwise incapacitated. Every concert is different and he never plays a song the same way twice. If you can get past his voice, his band is terrific. It’s always interesting. He is also a fine painter and occasionally a disc jockey on his own radio show called Theme Time Radio Hour.

        Reply
    • David Paul Behrens says:
      2 years ago

      I think he might say that he saw it coming. “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”

      Reply
  8. Susan Jarvis Bryant says:
    2 years ago

    Warren, you have captured in smooth-flowing, melodic stanzas, the circular journey to the devil’s cash cow that keeps on giving to the demons at the helm of the social-justice path to ruin… for all those liars claiming to help. Thanks for keeping the truth alive… a rare luxury in these dire days.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham says:
      2 years ago

      Thanks very much for the supportive comment. Whatever they say they’re doing ends up being the opposite of what they actually do (except for when they round up their adversaries – they’re very good at that). No matter the outcome, they end up doing very well personally.

      Reply
  9. David Whippman says:
    2 years ago

    Well written and all too true. It’s the triumph of hype over substance.
    As for the last four lines: in Britain, it has been known for the police to follow up comments on social media and tell people: “We are here to check your thinking.” I find that terrifying, though in general I am a supporter of the police.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Cynthia Erlandson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Discussions

  • Garima Obrah on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Prashant Rawal on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Michael Vanyukov on ‘Dear Blabby’s Advice for the Clueless’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson
  • Michael Vanyukov on ‘Absalom, Absalom’: A Poem by Brian Yapko
  • Sreeja Mohandas on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Amie on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Katherine Davies on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Leslie Hendrickson-Baral on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Paulette Calasibetta on ‘Absalom, Absalom’: A Poem by Brian Yapko
  • Joseph S. Salemi on ‘Absalom, Absalom’: A Poem by Brian Yapko
  • Prae Pathanasethpong on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
  • Venessa Lee-Estevez on The Society of Classical Poets 2025 Haiku Competition
Facebook Twitter Youtube

Archive

Categories

Quick Links

  • Submit Poetry
  • About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Members List
  • Support the Society
  • Advertisement Placement
  • Comments Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Art
    • Children’s Poetry
    • Covid-19
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Found Poems
    • Human Rights in China
    • Humor
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • Terrorism
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
  • Poetry Forms
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Pantoum
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondeau
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Sestina
    • Shape Poems
    • Sonnet
    • Terza Rima
    • Triolet
    • Villanelle
  • Great Poets
    • Dante Alighieri
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Homer
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Robert Frost
    • William Blake
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books

© 2025 SCP. WebDesign by CODEC Prime.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.