As for Pyrrhic Victories

Per adventure a day as any other day but could the thirsty earth have known this day blood would quench its thirst? birds of Heaven and beasts oblivious that human flesh was for the feasting As men this day would lose their history Never to wed their maidens fair, offspring lost … names wiped from the slate of time and those proud Romans, could they know defeat this day would call their names? And you, Valley of Asculum, bright and fair How did you greet the Earth at daybreak? As the moon went to sleep, exhausted and the sun peeked over the mountains as he always does, playfully at first and, then in all its brutal and beautiful glory who was to say, who would have known … quills of ancient writers dipping inkpots until wrist, arm and muscle grew weary as lives were ended in their thousands blood flowing down in crimson rivulets Could you Phyrrus … King of Epirus, distant relative to Alexander The Great could you have known your victory in the Battle of Heraclea would pale in comparison when losses were counted here in Asculum where on this day you said "one more such victory and I am lost" your words Phyrrus and hench forth victory at too great a cost would have a new name your name, from 279 BC for those here and generations yet unborn, we shall, remember this day ... this Pyrrhic Victory