2023 NaPM 18 April

[TranquillityBase]

Defeat and Victory


Great painting whether meaning
size or quality,
treasured for its action, composition
or sheer beauty,
view “Defeat of the Floating Batteries”
(from a distance
so as to take it in whole).

Leftward, chaos–
drowning men, sinking ships,
fire-lit clouds worthy of Bosch;
rightward, posed (though not quite poised),
red coats, cocked hats
and one imperious finger pointing
toward destruction.

Yet - and this is the third greatness -
the British Governor-General is not
pointing to the massacre he wrought
but, victory assured,
commanding his own startled troops
now to save their erstwhile enemies
and so defeat contempt in victory.

Perhaps this painting does not jibe
with current sensibilities
nor even current war of snipers,
knives in darkness, Hellfire missiles.
But it is great indeed: in size,
in art,
and most of all, in heart.

Duke, your poem got me to reading about the seige of Gibraltar, in particular the battle involving the "floating batteries".  The British always found a way to thwart the Spanish.  I could only find one reference to the General's mercy, and it was not very enlightening, but anyway, enjoyed re-reading this with care after that.  

Have the Spanish had a good military idea since the Thirty Years War?

TqB