Futility

[Todd]

Hi, here are some comments for you:

I think the title frames the poem well.

How great our nation is?--I like the question mark without it I would read the line incorrectly.
Wealth, Knowledge, Military might,
Our scholars the wisest in all the lands.
The gods look down on us with favor.

While I think the ideas aren't bad, there are a lot of flat statements here. You pass on information without giving us any concrete imagery. Can you describe these ideas more visually?

Who can stand against us?
Our borders secure, we strike back with vengence,--this strike back with vengeance is a bit cliche. Is there a fresher way to say this?
Against all who appose us.--minor typo: oppose
Their cities are ash.--it's the beginning of an image. Can you go deeper than this?

What heathens are they?--inverted syntax is awkward
To think themselves demigods,
Imposing their will,
Destroying our culture.-again a series of flat statements too near the surface. Example Marge Piercy wrote about growing up in Detroit by recounting not only her life but those of the girls she knew. One line near the end was "Girls used like urinals." It's the images that stay with you. Destroying our culture is forgettable. I would encourage you to push yourself more.

To one end we seek,
The end of our enemies.--these two lines have nice phrasing
We are born to die,--again we've heard this before...it's cliche
For our country, for our god.

When will there be a victor?
The ancient peoples are gone.
What say you of them?
Great were they not?--these two lines have the same awkward inverted syntax

Common people suffer,
Hidden powers grow,
At the expense of all,
Life on earth.--again consider pushing yourself more. This feels like (and I mean no disrespect) that you went with the first thing that came to mind.

You have a good idea, and a good title. I think you just need to go deeper with it. I hope the comments are helpful.

Best,

Todd