Stalemate by xertris
A great hoplite stands in the fray.
His hardened body and armor glean in the light of the day.
His arms honed by hours of training galore.
In his hands a spear and shield, and on his belt a sword.
He a approaches his enemy, undaunted and unfazed.
He moves to thrust his spear into his enemy’s face.
In response the foe attempts to respond, but in the end slips.
Instead of slaying the spearman. He just removes the spear’s tip.
He successful blunts the hoplite’s spear with a chop,
But once the tip's been dealt with the warrior stops.
He doesn't advance to permanently end this spearman's assault.
He stands back and waits, and observers are thrown into tumult.
Standing still, he parries and chops the spear tips heading his way.
but beyond this the warrior fails to proceed further into the fray.
He’s yet to call for allies to join him in the fight.
He’s yet to bolster his armor to resist enemy slights.
He’s yet to do anything else to finally end this threat.
Thus any observers facepalm and fret.
Perhaps his vision is stunted, by the fog of war.
He doesn't see the spearman, and is content to parry with his sword.
He dares not proceed unto the unknown or is pulled back by his mates.
For a time the parrying is working so why risk some unknown mistake.
Perhaps he is a coward, and can do no more.
He knows and sees the spearman, and is frightened to the core.
Of course in this his officer is partially to blame.
Their orders could be sub par, or the man improperly trained.
Perhaps the warrior wisely curtails his zeal.
Though careful deliberation, he decides aggression isn’t ideal.
He may lack the resources to decisively finish the foe,
So he bides his time for another strategy to grow.
Perhaps both combatants have worked out some plan.
Staging the battle as a front to garner what they can.
In the best case the battle is a show for all to enjoy.
At worst the battles a pretext to through fear, deprive and destroy.
One must not forget the spearman also plays his part.
His spears do little damage, yet he also stands apart.
His motivation may match the swordsman’s though his weapons have more reach.
For as long as he stands back, he has no ground to beseech.
One way or another the affair will end.
Someone may win, and another bends.
All may have their fill and leave it at a draw.
Until the true tale is heard, the onlookers will guffaw.
