In the summer
Of his Crusade
The absolute Ruler
Roared to his
True Believing Knights:
"Winning isn't everything,
it's the only thing."

To his dismay,
The message flew
From the war room
And appeared
Laminated
On desktops
And walls
Of high school coaches
Charged with shaping
The principles
Of callow Youth

In his late winter
Softened by perspective
Weakened by cancer
The uncertain Ruler whispered
"I wish I had never
Said the damn thing.
I intended it to be
About excellence,
Not to trample
Human morality and values."

He left the world
Knowing – and ruing
That the whisper
Had been drowned out
By the roar.